tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32112583671235318382024-03-20T22:58:31.805-04:00Occupation: Mommy ReviewLove it. Hate it. Gotta have it.Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-73800406626765961492011-12-19T15:23:00.001-05:002011-12-19T15:51:04.404-05:00Flower Girl World: Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpcHnFHJFKVWLs9JIxrNjA0Mm7NkELxKuCtjlV63dFkrU_f08vY5rTncU21m3cRPxOw6lI1FCBwZKRVusVLzAu2NBttBnJ7yqbW9KfSVe-NYmfshMB4K_7g9r4_yq_hsPs_dM5bSbaeQC/s1600/DSCN9430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpcHnFHJFKVWLs9JIxrNjA0Mm7NkELxKuCtjlV63dFkrU_f08vY5rTncU21m3cRPxOw6lI1FCBwZKRVusVLzAu2NBttBnJ7yqbW9KfSVe-NYmfshMB4K_7g9r4_yq_hsPs_dM5bSbaeQC/s320/DSCN9430.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Audrey, Georgia, and Sydney got to be <a href="http://occupationmommy.com/2011/12/three-flower-girls.html" target="_blank">flower girls</a> in my brother-in-law's wedding this past Saturday. They were beside themselves with excitement in the weeks leading up to the event.<br />
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One way I often help my kids prepare for upcoming things is to read them books about the experiences they will be having. So before going to the dentist, we read books about it. Before going apple picking, we read apple books.<br />
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And the wedding was no different. We had accumulated a couple of wedding books over the years that the girls enjoyed reading before the big day.<br />
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I was offered the chance to review a new website and set of books designed to engage (pun intended) little girls who are interested in flower girls or who are going to be flower girls. <a href="http://www.flowergirlworld.com/camellia-the-fabulous-flower-girl/">Camellia, the Fabulous Flower Girl</a> is a picture book that both Sydney and Georgia enjoyed. It helps girls understand that friends (and flower girls) don't always have to be the same to be friends. It has the little details I like in these kinds of books that help children know what to expect when they are in the situation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flowergirlworld.com/chapter-book-rosie-and-the-wedding-day-rescue/" target="_blank">Rosie and the Wedding Day Rescue</a> is a chapter book that Georgia and Audrey both had fun reading. It is for slightly older girls, although I think Audrey (5th grade) is probably even a bit old for it.<br />
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But not only are there two fun flower girl books, there's a whole <a href="http://www.flowergirlworld.com/" target="_blank">Flower Girl World</a> website. While not yet at full functionality, there are lots of tips for parents and brides, as well as info for flower-girls-to-be and a photo gallery of flower girls. There will be games and activities for girls, as well.<br />
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<i>I was provided with free copies of the two books to facilitate my review. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.</i>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-72208933251111519502011-12-09T18:37:00.001-05:002011-12-14T21:23:44.097-05:00Betty Crocker Molasses Cookies REVIEW/GIVEAWAY<i>Congratulations, <a href="http://myattkids.blogspot.com/">Melanie</a>! You are the winner of the Molasses Cookie prize pack! Happy baking!</i> <br />
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'Tis the season for cookies! Last night, I went to a cookie exchange with a bunch of ladies from my women's Bible study small group. There were piles of yummy treats, and of course my kids dove on my stash the moment they saw it.<br />
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My girls love baking. Sydney is always game for hopping up on the counter and "helping" me bake. Georgia and Audrey are actually helpful and are developing great kitchen skills.<br />
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So that's why when I was offered to participate in the Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie mix review, I knew Audrey would love to try them out.<br />
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I decided to let Audrey (age 9) do the entire thing by herself. She was so proud to try, and got right to work. Since it was a cookie mix, there was not a lot she had to do. She cracked the egg, softened the butter, mixed it all up, and formed the cookies. She was able to make cookies, start to finish, all by herself. The kids loved them (except for Sydney, who doesn't like gingerbread)!<br />
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Would you like to win a Betty Crocker prize pack of your own? Just leave me a comment, telling me your favorite Christmas cookie. US addresses only, please.<br />
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<i>I was provided with a Betty Crocker prize pack as a thank-you for posting. I was not otherwise compensated. All product, prize pack, information, and the giveaway have all been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.</i>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-85193443154303245672011-09-08T11:01:00.000-04:002011-09-08T11:01:05.261-04:00Veggie-Go's: REVIEWMy four kids can EAT. And when Audrey and Georgia get home from school, they are hungry! Of course, if somebody's eating, they all want a snack. So I am always on the lookout for healthy options that are fun and yummy. We often have apples and peanut butter, or cheese and crackers.<br />
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I was recently introduced to a new snack, called "Veggie-Go's." Basically, they are a fruit leather-type snack, made from all-natural ingredients, fruits, vegetables, and spices. There are five unique flavor combinations:<br />
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Mountain Berry Spinach<br />
Cinnamon-Spiced Beet<br />
Mulled Wine<br />
Carrot Ginger<br />
Sweet Potato Pie<br />
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While Joel was napping, the girls and I sat down for a taste test. Everyone was in agreement that they loved the Mountain Berry Spinach. Very yummy! There was a little disagreement in the order of next yummiest, but we all liked the Mulled Wine and Cinnamon-Spiced Beet. I thought Sweet Potato Pie was pretty good, with its chunks of pecans, but Georgia doesn't like sweet potatoes, so that was a no-go for her. None of us were fans of the Carrot Ginger. The ginger was very strong, so if you love ginger, it's the flavor for you!<br />
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Veggie-Go's are available at local specialty food stores in the Boulder, CO area, or you can order them <a href="http://www.nakededgesnacks.com/shop%20online.html">online</a>. They retail for $1.49 each, or you can buy a multi-pack. Veggie-Go's are made by a company called <a href="http://www.nakededgesnacks.com/home.html">The Naked Edge</a>. Find them on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/iloveveggiegos?sk=app_201143516562748">facebook</a>, or follow them on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/thenakededge">Twitter</a>.Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-71667866423823483572011-08-30T21:00:00.000-04:002011-08-30T21:00:47.277-04:00Aussan Naturals: REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkRSuFonjpCEkqUoCcJ7io6QT5iHjAHNS0rJ2Q71GBQv7d_sDAe_aRG7XVY7cxjF1h9xuUkkunTvwWLYw3oWg3aMM4ICfKP3_-bv6aREDa5dcPThvgCa-uTsmLSvDl0vgUgQo-EEcjrJF/s1600/aussan-natural-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkRSuFonjpCEkqUoCcJ7io6QT5iHjAHNS0rJ2Q71GBQv7d_sDAe_aRG7XVY7cxjF1h9xuUkkunTvwWLYw3oWg3aMM4ICfKP3_-bv6aREDa5dcPThvgCa-uTsmLSvDl0vgUgQo-EEcjrJF/s320/aussan-natural-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I like to feed my family lots of healthy fruits and vegetables. It is not within our budget to buy only organic produce, but I do try to buy organic when I'm choosing something that's on the "<a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-01/health/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide_1_pesticide-residue-pesticide-tests-fruits-and-vegetables?_s=PM:HEALTH">dirty dozen</a>" list. I'm fortunate to shop at a grocery store that has a wide variety of natural and organic foods. But even so, sometimes the produce I would like to buy is not available in organic. For example, last week conventional strawberries were buy one get one free. There were so many strawberries that there wasn't any space for the organic ones!<br />
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So that's why I was happy to try out <a href="http://www.aussannatural.com/">Aussan Naturals</a> products. Among many natural cleaning and household products, Aussan Naturals offers a <a href="http://www.aussannatural.com/product.aspx?id=2">fresh fruit and vegetable wash</a>. From their website:<br />
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<blockquote><span id="Product1_lblDescription"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spray firm produce, such as apples, bell peppers and tomatoes with a generous amount of Aussan Natural</span>™<span style="font-size: x-small;">. Allow product to sit a few seconds, then rub well, rinse, & eat. For softer produce, such as lettuce, berries and broccoli, place in a colander & spray generously with Aussan Natural</span>™<span style="font-size: x-small;">. Allow product to sit a few seconds, then rinse & enjoy. Leaves no residue or aftertaste!</span></span></blockquote><br />
It is 100% natural and non-toxic. I like that it is getting my produce cleaner than using water alone, and there really is no aftertaste. <br />
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I also had the opportunity to try out their <a href="http://www.aussannatural.com/product.aspx?id=1">all-purpose cleaner</a>. For a few years now, I have only used natural cleaners in the kitchen. I like them because they work well but are healthier for my family. I know, I could just use vinegar and baking soda, but I really hate how vinegar smells. So I choose to spend a little more for a nicer scent. Aussan Natural has a very subtle scent. Nice!<br />
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<i>I was provided with a free bottle of both Fruit and Vegetable Cleaner and All-Purpose Cleaner to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. All product information comes from the product website.</i>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-68978532926963241372011-08-26T20:35:00.001-04:002011-08-26T20:41:54.103-04:00Fyrflyz: Review and Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7TgyCiVFSNfEjtM2ZwN0fQs8e9vyJCmUAFv9-m8cCZ6Bc4HLDV2cUr0bW-xMxcFPihLGEAoYR5dDew4xpzLmJl5igoow2BlpQdyx4Wvpe6qhZd5bTMbTRajGv8KvuWKulStXUtEkImUK/s1600/fyrflyz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7TgyCiVFSNfEjtM2ZwN0fQs8e9vyJCmUAFv9-m8cCZ6Bc4HLDV2cUr0bW-xMxcFPihLGEAoYR5dDew4xpzLmJl5igoow2BlpQdyx4Wvpe6qhZd5bTMbTRajGv8KvuWKulStXUtEkImUK/s320/fyrflyz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Do your kids like to catch fireflies? Mine sure do! Recently, we were asked by MomSelect to review a new toy that kids can use to do light tricks. Since it's intended for kids ages 8 and up, I asked my 9-year-old daughter, Audrey to review it for me. Here's her take on it, and her first foray into vlogging!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr27u38MfEPZVJXy8-0232emUqEN0j-8ikpB55vHhmWuhI-3BrB7p00OMTolVtzRzkkuNtt2m6nNLxN2atcrSY5TbgkszfTg0SAFSzFutAjRC49gmVsvLwUH-gWRsTWksUVqavPMBntQ3M/s1600/212_cyclone-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr27u38MfEPZVJXy8-0232emUqEN0j-8ikpB55vHhmWuhI-3BrB7p00OMTolVtzRzkkuNtt2m6nNLxN2atcrSY5TbgkszfTg0SAFSzFutAjRC49gmVsvLwUH-gWRsTWksUVqavPMBntQ3M/s1600/212_cyclone-1.jpg" /></a>Hi, I'm Audrey and I love the Fyrflyz toy. It is kind of like seeing fireworks in your own backyard. You hold the handles loosely and spin it. Then, when you have it wound up, you pull it tight. At this point, you should be having optical illusions which make you see all kinds of cool shapes!<br />
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My friends who I gave them to, love the Fyrflyz toy, also. I love to try to make hearts (when a triangle blends into a circle) with one of my friends. One time we were trying to do it with the lights off. She got a lights-out heart without ever having gotten one before! She was so mad because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get a heart with the lights on before. She eventually got a heart with lights,though.<br />
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I think that this is a fun, easy toy that almost all kids would enjoy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzokvpfhXbrFzkyjkDWsIi1OnA28bYhCPoXfyzx8_t0IptbTeLpuVAOYZ_uI2vJxMQ5hHoOAK2_9bwWn2fTTw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<b>Would your kids like to try out a Fyrflyz? We have one to give away to a lucky reader. To enter, just leave a comment telling us who you would give it to. Make sure you leave your email address if it's not linked in your profile. US addresses only, please. Contest ends Friday, September 2. Winner has 48 hours to respond with his/her address, otherwise we will have to select another winner.</b><br />
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<b>Fyrflyz are available at Toys R Us stores. </b><i><br />
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<i>I was provided with a free Fyrflyz toy by <a href="http://www.momselect.com/">MomSelect </a>and <a href="http://www.fyrflyz.com/">Fyrflyz </a>to facilitate my review, as well as two additional toys to give to Audrey's friends. I was not compensated in any other way for this review. All opinions are my own or those of my daughter. </i><br />
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Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-14936539711107741262011-08-12T09:57:00.000-04:002011-08-12T09:57:33.470-04:00Review: Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw2g2BNNxf8BC1-ajwLBFv2dvBQCCWFIH-ym6Y4A1N4qqq-pZ31TU05iXMPX_-w4uzzV-5nRPbL7tISHgoK91Ges2K07L_lV2tKf-MzYRjl-obJTMUe7N4NsGLU7KUEVUv2FObEqWBx3a/s1600/harry+potter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw2g2BNNxf8BC1-ajwLBFv2dvBQCCWFIH-ym6Y4A1N4qqq-pZ31TU05iXMPX_-w4uzzV-5nRPbL7tISHgoK91Ges2K07L_lV2tKf-MzYRjl-obJTMUe7N4NsGLU7KUEVUv2FObEqWBx3a/s200/harry+potter.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Who has seen the new Harry Potter movie? We haven't yet, but we are big Harry Potter fans. Audrey is only nine, so I have just let her read the first three books in the series so far. Georgia will probably read the first one this year, too.<br />
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We play a lot of games in our house, so that's why we were so excited to be able to try out Clue: Harry Potter Edition. Clue is one of my favorite kids' games, and this one did not disappoint. It is set in Hogwarts, and one of the students is missing! You get to choose someone to be, and go through the school looking for clues.<br />
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The game is played in much the same way as regular Clue, but with a few fun Harry Potter twists. If your kids like Clue and Harry Potter, I think this game will be a big hit with them!<br />
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<i>I was provided with Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition free from <a href="http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/">Hasbro</a>, for purposes of this review. No other compensation was given, all opinions are my own.</i>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-29427753421418462012011-05-12T13:11:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:35:43.478-04:00CSN Stores: GIVEAWAY!Our 4-year-old, Sydney, is allergic to <a href="http://occupationmommy.blogspot.com/2011/02/die-red-dye.html">red food dye</a>. It is so severe that one time when her preschool teacher made Sydney's footprints on a piece of paper with red paint that she had a reaction. Now Sydney does not use red paint unless she is using a paintbrush.<br /><br />Then a couple of weeks ago, she came home from school with red marker on her hands. She had been tracing her hands for a picture, and some of the (washable) marker got on her skin. Later that day, of course, she had a huge meltdown of the dye variety.<br /><br />So right away I decided that I had to find her some natural markers, if any existed. Lucky for me, I found some online. Even luckier, CSN Stores carry them! <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/">CSN Stores</a> are a group of online stores that have over a million products, from baby equipment to shoes to lighting and rugs. And luckiest of all, I was in the process of doing a review of their stores for this blog.<br /><br />So I quickly ordered some <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/Clementine-C422151.html">Clementine natural art products</a> for Sydney to try. The prices were great--lower than at another large online retailer you might know. Many items from CSN ship for free, or shipping is free once you spend a certain amount. The items I ordered came very quickly, even earlier than I was told when I placed my order. I was very happy with the speed and variety of products offered by CSN.<br /><br />Sydney liked the markers and crayon rocks I ordered for her. There were only four colors of markers, but they were bold and colorful. The crayon rocks were fun, and came in a package of nine different colors. Hopefully now she can trace her little hands without having a problem!<br /><br /><br />If you would like to win a set of Clementine natural markers and crayon rocks, leave a comment telling me who you would give them to. Make sure you leave your email address if it's not linked to your profile, U.S. addresses only, please. Contest will end next Thursday, 5/19.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided with a gift card to facilitate this review and giveaway. All opinions are my own.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-1389332317134748832011-05-09T09:51:00.003-04:002011-05-09T10:06:06.140-04:00Goal for it! REVIEWThere are several different chore charts online to help your kids become more responsible. But what about Mom? I don't know about you, but I NEED my lists of tasks each day if I am going to get anything done. That's what makes Goal For It! different.<br /><br />Besides <a href="http://www.goalforit.com/">behavior charts</a> and chore charts for kids, there are tools that allow anyone (even parents) to make and track daily to-do lists. I especially love the goal setting section. I set myself a blogging goal and was able to list different steps I will take to reach my goal. Then I can go back and keep track of my progress. I can even have the site email me reminders (could be necessary).<br /><br />When you sign up, you create a profile and you have the option to make your goals private, public, or for your friends to see. This could be great if you are working on a project with others and need to keep track of what's been done.<br /><br />As you create to-do lists, there are many icons already made for you to choose between, from health items to chores to fun things. There is also a way to custom-label an icon if the task you need to remember isn't listed.<br /><br />Take a look at Goal For It! if you are, like me, unorganized when it comes to daily tasks or if you need a little nudge toward your goals and dreams.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-1332729848938660112011-04-26T11:35:00.003-04:002011-04-26T11:46:46.278-04:00Jake the Pig series: REVIEW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRFuYIbW436aksTFfPBTzJCZ9RFYw-TDGvxPkBoU-5P8BaDeccqslF6-ptFMrlcKQrVubfLE1XreWl62T0AQvknov0vqw-EyyZIouwzFRQXaWN33GPDMNoAkR8YmstzsZAzrlClFhyh6P/s1600/JakeSavesTheDayBookCover.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRFuYIbW436aksTFfPBTzJCZ9RFYw-TDGvxPkBoU-5P8BaDeccqslF6-ptFMrlcKQrVubfLE1XreWl62T0AQvknov0vqw-EyyZIouwzFRQXaWN33GPDMNoAkR8YmstzsZAzrlClFhyh6P/s400/JakeSavesTheDayBookCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599916922965527922" border="0" /></a>Recently, Rich and I have had a few incidents with the girls where we are realizing that we need to be more pro-active with teaching them about finances.<br /><br />Audrey and Georgia often seem to understand money pretty well. They have both saved their allowances for months for big purchases, and don't usually waste their money on candy or junky toys. Sydney (almost 4), is just getting to the age where she is starting to understand money. She especially likes to play "store" at her grandparents' house, where they will give her real money to use in her cash register, and then let her take it home when she's done!<br /><br />There is a new series of books, written to help parents teach their children about financial responsibility. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jake-Saves-Day-Life-Money/dp/1452099294/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303832088&sr=1-1">Jake Saves the Day</a> teaches about the importance of saving, while <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jake-Earns-Treat-Life-Money/dp/1456730010/ref=pd_sim_b_1">Jake Earns a Treat</a> teaches children the link between working at a job and earning money to buy something you want.<br /><br />Sydney definitely doesn't understand either concept yet, so I was glad to read these books to her so we could begin to discuss money ideas. She seemed to enjoy them (I was asked to read each book twice in a row the first time she saw them). The main problem I had with them was that some of the rhymes seemed a bit forced. But I definitely think that teaching kids about finances and how to use money wisely is important. These books are a good way to open up the conversation with younger children in a way they can understand.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided with a free copy of Jake Saves the Day and Jake Earns a Treat to facilitate my review. I was not otherwise compensated for my review. All opinions are my own or those of my children.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-85405956667070344592011-04-16T11:04:00.001-04:002011-04-26T11:34:35.828-04:00Weird Sports: REVIEW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8lGAZL25nEfTz4Bmiihf9VNiFi7OPg61aocS5SCggGITBwedRQ3pf6GYXnA13qFKUF35ZP13hqigJYpIUkq2JN1g2ycJ3qQR-Fh6QcJNwaOzKt6rXBF-YyP9HjFjgxkl1f53upq1A3lc/s1600/weird+sports.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8lGAZL25nEfTz4Bmiihf9VNiFi7OPg61aocS5SCggGITBwedRQ3pf6GYXnA13qFKUF35ZP13hqigJYpIUkq2JN1g2ycJ3qQR-Fh6QcJNwaOzKt6rXBF-YyP9HjFjgxkl1f53upq1A3lc/s400/weird+sports.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599914326596144466" border="0" /></a><br />What do extreme ironing, toilet racing, and cheese rolling have in common?<br /><br />They are all actual activities that actual people partake in!<br /><br />The girls and I have been enjoying a new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weird-Sports-Michael-Teitelbaum/dp/1936310031/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303831955&sr=8-7">Weird Sports</a>, by Michael Teitelbaum from <a href="http://www.beachballbooks.com/">Beach Ball Books</a>. It is full of full-color photographs of people playing strange sports and participating in off-the-wall games. Georgia (first grade) had some belly laughs when she read about elephant soccer, and Sydney (almost 4) loved looking at the pictures of the toilet and bed racing.<br /><br />This book is a fun, fast read. The layout of the book is exciting, with lots of photos and short text passages that describe each sport or game. The quotes from real players of the games add an extra layer of "wow" to the stories. My girls really enjoyed it!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided a free copy of Weird Sports to facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, or those of my children.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-21339071523551219112011-02-28T20:05:00.003-05:002011-02-28T20:07:27.269-05:00Review to come: CSN StoresYou may have heard around the web of CSN Stores. They are a group of online stores that carry pretty much everything, from baby gear to toys to <a href="http://www.csnlighting.com/">lights </a>to fitness gear... I am happy to announce that I will be doing a review/giveaway from CSN in the very near future. So stay tuned for that post, coming soon!Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-3825644062278794082011-02-24T13:54:00.002-05:002011-02-24T14:09:47.479-05:00Yoplait Original: Review and Giveaway<span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">We all know that it's important to get enough calcium in our diets. I don't know about you, but I tend to consume most of my calcium at breakfast time, with the milk on my cereal and my glass of calcium-fortified OJ. Audrey doesn't like to drink milk, so she often eats yogurt instead. I like to eat yogurt with a little sprinkle of granola or some frozen fruit on top.<br /><br />Yoplait is running a campaign now to encourage women to get enough calcium. Here's what they had to say:<br /><br />"In an effort to further educate women about the importance of maintaining strong, healthy bones through an active lifestyle and a diet rich in calcium, Yoplait is partnering with TV host and celebrity mom Nancy O’Dell on a <b>one million cup giveaway</b> of Yoplait Original yogurt, beginning December 13th. Visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/yoplait" target="_blank">Yoplait on Facebook</a> to sign up for your free cup and make a personal commitment to meeting your calcium needs each day. While you’re there, take a moment to enjoy daily calcium tips from Registered Dietitian Katherine Brooking and healthy lifestyle advice from Nancy O’Dell." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">"Now with two times the amount of calcium of the leading yogurt, that’s 50 percent of the Daily Value in one convenient 6-ounce cup, Yoplait Original yogurt provides women with an easy and delicious way to get the calcium they need. Yoplait Original also contains 50 percent of the Daily Value of vitamin D, which helps with the absorption of calcium. Yoplait is committed to women’s health and is proud to offer a product that has even more of the calcium and vitamin D they need for strong, healthy bodies." </span><br /><br />I was sent a prize pack, including a coupon for a free cup of yogurt, a duffle bag, a jump rope, a water bottle, and a sports towel. My girls scarfed up the yogurt. They love the mixed berry flavor, although their favorite Yoplait product is the Yoplait Whips.<br /><br />If you would like to win the same prize pack, leave me a comment about your favorite flavor of yogurt OR your favorite way to get extra calcium in your diet. (US addresses only; Yogurt coupon is not valid in <span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.)</i></span> Contest ends Friday, 3/4/11. Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not linked to your profile, otherwise I will need to pick another winner.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This coupon, prize pack, giveaway, and information were provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. I received a prize pack to facilitate my review, but was not otherwise compensated for this post.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-67272539401322460962010-11-21T20:03:00.003-05:002010-11-21T20:16:06.354-05:00Norah Jones Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuvGfRY9OhK2QEqBvb5DfQhYYe6609vKf9kTs4EYtFEIi3-OiGdqWKzYZRk_AXnsFbqRBA4-p41qw2yLqYenjtcC2ZJuSULr-WfXPLHJhP52-dbCr5IlnxQygQ5LK6mz0uUtbqev0-ouA/s1600/Featuring+Norah+Jones+cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuvGfRY9OhK2QEqBvb5DfQhYYe6609vKf9kTs4EYtFEIi3-OiGdqWKzYZRk_AXnsFbqRBA4-p41qw2yLqYenjtcC2ZJuSULr-WfXPLHJhP52-dbCr5IlnxQygQ5LK6mz0uUtbqev0-ouA/s320/Featuring+Norah+Jones+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542173741224391346" border="0" /></a>I have always been a music lover. My parents sang to me all the time when I was a kid, and I was involved in choir and drama club in high school, as well as taking voice, piano, and violin lessons. I loved all kinds of different styles of music.<br /><br />And then I had kids.<br /><br />Now, I still listen to a lot of music, but it is usually kid music that I turn to in an effort to minimize fighting in the car.<br /><br />Recently, I decided that I needed to broaden my repertoire again, so I was glad when One to One Network asked if I wanted to try out Norah Jones' new album, "...Featuring Norah Jones."<br /><br />This album is comprised of tracks recorded throughout Jones' career, and each track is a duet with a different famous vocalist. The songs span all kinds of styles of music. While I didn't enjoy all of the songs (I'm not a fan of rap music), it was amazing to hear Norah Jones' vocal ability in so many different genres. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Disclosure: As a member of One to One Network, I was provided with a free copy of this album to review. By posting this review, I am entering a contest to win a gift card.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-26593942023468033532010-11-02T22:06:00.001-04:002010-11-02T22:07:45.402-04:00At-Home Date Night: Winner!Congratulations, <a href="http://www.somuchshoutingsomuchlaughter.com/">Suzannah</a>, you are the winner of my Date Night giveaway! Send me your address and your prize will be on its way.Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-66769349914016688102010-10-22T11:00:00.002-04:002010-10-22T11:02:43.070-04:00Trivial Pursuit Steal: Winners!Congratulations, <a href="http://adventuresoftampamama.com/">Marisa Langford</a>, Rachel Reidenbach, and <a href="http://www.totalmomhaircut.com">Beth</a>! You are the winners of my Trivial Pursuit Steal giveaway. Please send me your contact info so you can get your prize. <br /><br />Winners have 48 hours to contact me with their address, or prizes will be forfeited.Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-2526016465987542612010-10-22T10:38:00.004-04:002010-10-22T10:55:56.287-04:00At-Home Date Night: GIVEAWAY!Everyone can agree that date night is important. It is great to get away with your spouse for a couple of hours, have a break from being mommy and daddy and just be husband and wife again. But with four little ones at home, including a four-month-old, it is hard to get out of the house. Babysitters are expensive and I just wouldn't feel comfortable leaving little Joel with a teenager yet.<br /><br />So we like to do at-home date nights. We feed the kids, put them to bed, and then often order take-out. We like to watch a movie or play a board game. It is almost as good as going out, and a whole lot cheaper!<br /><br />Take-out can add up, though. Fortunately, <a href="http://wanchaiferryathome.com">Wanchai Ferry</a> and <a href="http://macaronigrillathome.com">Macaroni Grill</a>, through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com">MyBlogSpark</a>, sent me some dry dinner kits to try out. Rich and I tried the Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken. You just had to add your own chicken (or pork or shrimp) and everything else was included. I followed one of the tips on the back and added half a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables. It was tasty! There was plenty of sauce for the chicken and the veggies, and there was also enough to drip down over the rice (always a concern for Rich). We enjoyed this meal. Other flavors include cashew chicken, spicy garlic chicken, and Kung Pao chicken.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIpBT771BrPkTMmhNMiL1A1V9h2EHu60dVSe2SJ41WDVXMZmmwoYfvI43XMRRAcigyYBLYK53hZ-s70fbCpuYrUCrCKfPTOwItTDZlL1mWhq5pJ3Uq6eMFsV4DzzSake_c-WYRzh_i9m4/s1600/wf+logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIpBT771BrPkTMmhNMiL1A1V9h2EHu60dVSe2SJ41WDVXMZmmwoYfvI43XMRRAcigyYBLYK53hZ-s70fbCpuYrUCrCKfPTOwItTDZlL1mWhq5pJ3Uq6eMFsV4DzzSake_c-WYRzh_i9m4/s320/wf+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530881204186297586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHO2c6oKFUnA50oJ1lnJb3KCEuwzu3uTJsAnlefy4gbTl5KArOh9IQFwHlS8IFii52L-6o0BVtnjIa1vSMk68G5SDtN0t6ryJL4zhcRXKdUXT8GtDCRrMQ1AhSbUzJgNVu7pF0UJHOg0B/s1600/orange+chicken.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHO2c6oKFUnA50oJ1lnJb3KCEuwzu3uTJsAnlefy4gbTl5KArOh9IQFwHlS8IFii52L-6o0BVtnjIa1vSMk68G5SDtN0t6ryJL4zhcRXKdUXT8GtDCRrMQ1AhSbUzJgNVu7pF0UJHOg0B/s320/orange+chicken.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530881197961282802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We also got a box of Macaroni Grill Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken to try for our next date night. Yummy!<br /><br />If you would like to win a prize pack, including a Wanchai Ferry meal, a Macaroni Grill meal, and a $25 gift card for your own at-home date night, leave me a comment about your favorite way to enjoy at-home dates. Or you can tell me about a memorable first date you had! US addresses only, please. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Contest ends October 31.<br /><br />If you want to try the dinners out right away, MyBlogSpark has provided my readers with a coupon for <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/198d/">$1.50 off of two boxes</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided with a prize pack including two boxed dinners and a gift card to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-81519325603361735982010-10-10T22:23:00.003-04:002010-10-10T22:35:10.360-04:00Trivial Pursuit Steal: Review and Giveaway!My husband is the kind of person who remembers Everything. Little, unimportant details, statistics, events, they are all somehow stored in his brain.<br /><br />So it logically follows that one of his favorite board games is Trivial Pursuit. For a long time, I was frustrated whenever I played with him, until I realized that I just need to be on his team. Problem solved! We always win!<br /><br />I was excited to hear that Hasbro is introducing a new game in their line of card games called Trivial Pursuit Steal. It takes the fun of Trivial Pursuit and adds a new twist that allows players to steal wedges of pie from other players.<br /><br />The other night, Rich and I broke out the new game. The nice aspects of the game were that we were able to play in a much shorter time than traditional Trivial Pursuit (about 15-20 minutes). Also, since it's a card game, it is much more compact and great for taking on vacation. It also seemed that players could be on a more even playing field, since there are "steal" cards. If you get a steal card, you can take another person's piece of pie to complete your pie. <br /><br />This aspect of the steal was a fun twist for me, but I will have to be honest and say that it frustrated Rich. It may have been because I stole four pieces of pie from him and won...<br /><br />Maybe next time we play I will have to shuffle the deck a little more thoroughly :)<br /><br />Would you like to give Trivial Pursuit Steal a try? I am giving away THREE games to THREE lucky readers! To enter, just leave me a comment telling me one of your favorite board or card games. I will pick a winner on October 17. US addresses only, please.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided a free game of Trivial Pursuit Steal to facilitate my review. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-74731851246898568672010-08-19T15:47:00.003-04:002010-08-19T16:10:20.111-04:00Guess Who? Mix 'n Match: REVIEWOne of my girls' favorite things to do, either together or with me, is play games. Rich and I also love to play games, and have quite an assortment of board and card games that we often play after the little ones are asleep.<br /><br />Audrey, in particular, has loved the game Guess Who? since she was about two. My in-laws still have the old set, and she used to love to flip the funny faces up and down and make her grandma tell her all their names.<br /><br />Hasbro has come up with a new twist on Guess Who? called <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?guid=6E8213B9-19B9-F369-1007-A808ABFF9657&product_id=26832&src=endeca">Guess Who? Mix 'n Match</a> and they offered to let us try it out.<br /><br />All three of the girls (ages 8, 6, and 3) were intrigued by the game when we first opened it up. It consists of fifteen different characters, each of whom has been split into three parts (forehead, eyes, and nose/mouth). Players choose one of each part and then ask the other players yes/no questions to try and figure out which pieces make up their character. The game is labeled for ages 8 and up.<br /><br />Audrey (8) absolutely loves this game, as I thought she might. The characters are not drawn in a babyish way (something she is always concerned about), so it is appealing to older kids. There are animals, people, and monsters, so both girls and boys should be happy playing. Audrey likes the game so much that she is already planning on getting it for her friend's birthday in a couple of months.<br /><br />Georgia (6) also likes to play, but is definitely just barely old enough to play independently. She can read, which is not absolutely essential to gameplay, but is helpful.<br /><br />Sydney (3) can never be left out of anything. But she can enjoy this game, too, although not with her sisters. We play with the cards face-up, and she has to try to put together each face the "right" way. She has played it numerous times, and really likes it.<br /><br />I think that this game is a great way for kids to practice logic as they narrow down the options for their character. I wish the stands used to hold the cards were sturdier; they are made of cardboard and have to be disassembled after each game. Other than that minor complaint, I think it's a fun game that parents can enjoy playing with their kids.<br /><br />And a great time to play with the kids would be on National Family Game Night, sponsored by Hasbro, on September 29. <br /><br />Find Hasbro on Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/familygamenight">www.facebook.com/familygamenight</a> or on Twitter @familygamenight for more updates on the latest games.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided the game Guess Who? Mix 'n Mash by Hasbro free to try out. My opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any other way for this post.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-4855484581674774092010-08-19T15:33:00.002-04:002010-08-19T15:37:33.118-04:00Winner: Crayola Green Back-to-SchoolCongratulations, <a href="http://hormonecoloreddays.blogspot.com">Kim Moldofsky</a>, you are the winner of my <a href="http://occupationmommyreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/crayola-green-back-to-school-giveaway.html">Crayola prize package</a>! Please send me your mailing address and your prize will be on its way.Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-42406447646695892852010-08-10T14:09:00.004-04:002010-08-10T14:19:43.278-04:00Crayola Green Back-to-School: GIVEAWAY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJditrSerLo0atjav312jW6gzU_LXy6p7lWVxVV0EOYqfkLNt808aLeIt8Wbd4rj8C9KmFtwsIuZC5-QOCAk5fUSKKd3wH371vpwZ4cIgp6j9wpWWBO4ddupJ_rqlLDkwE8tGgjGqbEki/s1600/crayola+logo_final.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJditrSerLo0atjav312jW6gzU_LXy6p7lWVxVV0EOYqfkLNt808aLeIt8Wbd4rj8C9KmFtwsIuZC5-QOCAk5fUSKKd3wH371vpwZ4cIgp6j9wpWWBO4ddupJ_rqlLDkwE8tGgjGqbEki/s320/crayola+logo_final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503845732216068290" border="0" /></a>It's that time of year again, time to start thinking about going back to school. This year, I have three little school girls! Audrey will be starting fourth grade, Georgia is going into first grade, and little Sydney will be starting her first year of preschool (sniff, sniff). It's a good thing that I have my two-month-old snuggle bug, Joel, to keep me company.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9iqma4DkHb3lqW1oIGx0SmLNL28r586YxUW3aRC3XNzsx2_Ia25b0781XdcInsbTA5PdgAJn0WRaYz7NYudYn4I9vbqIT6JlV4RZ30ucoKaICqyApZcc8F5a7K5II_tGfE_MDAgoydtN/s1600/crayola+green+bts-web_1_final.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9iqma4DkHb3lqW1oIGx0SmLNL28r586YxUW3aRC3XNzsx2_Ia25b0781XdcInsbTA5PdgAJn0WRaYz7NYudYn4I9vbqIT6JlV4RZ30ucoKaICqyApZcc8F5a7K5II_tGfE_MDAgoydtN/s320/crayola+green+bts-web_1_final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503845728340972226" border="0" /></a>And what would back-to-school be without Crayola products? This year, Crayola is featuring their new "greener" line of supplies. According to MyBlogSpark, Crayola has "greened" three of its products:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><ul><li><b>Crayola Markers</b> - Thanks to new, innovative ways to manufacture Crayola markers from recycled bottle caps, "black" is the new "green!" Crayola markers will now have black barrels instead of white, which allows for more <span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1281463151_2">recycled plastic</span> to be used and gives a second life to more than 1 million pounds of <span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1281463151_3">plastic bottle caps</span>. Plus, switching to black barrels keeps hundreds of tons of plastic out of landfills each year. Available in 10-ct. Broadline Classic Colors, 10-ct. Broadline Assorted Colors, 10-ct. Fineline Classic Colors, 8-ct. Washable Broadline and 8-ct. Washable Fineline.</li><br /><li><b>Crayola Green 24-ct. Crayons</b> - The quintessential school supply found in virtually every elementary classroom will be made with the power of the sun. More than 26,200 solar panels will convert sunlight into electricity, generating the energy required to make 1 billion of the 3 billion crayons Crayola makes each year, which equals 60 million 24-ct. boxes. Mother Earth will be smiling down on every forest green, pine green and jungle green crayon that rolls off the assembly line! </li><br /><li><b>Crayola Green Colored Pencils</b> - Committed to protecting the rain forests since 1987, all Crayola colored pencils have been made from reforested wood instead of wood sourced from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1281463151_4">tropical rainforest</span> or endangered species. For every tree used, a new tree of the same species is planted. The 12-, 24-, 36-, and 50-ct. boxes of Crayola Colored Pencils will be among the first to carry the "Eco-Evolution" callout on their packaging. </li></ul></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs3ScB2fxejCa1MRlJ5GmhtHJL9mnLE3DN2eXvBuUYw60fl45j_NgHN5anwOJ3UoxiiDf6c8dyOJISsQkhKc_gSkNZCQ_4JaQCopL1qSg2dOvA6IoLTgFo_j6EI6MPr6FJSzjT69Cvw-o/s1600/coremarkers_black+barrels_final.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs3ScB2fxejCa1MRlJ5GmhtHJL9mnLE3DN2eXvBuUYw60fl45j_NgHN5anwOJ3UoxiiDf6c8dyOJISsQkhKc_gSkNZCQ_4JaQCopL1qSg2dOvA6IoLTgFo_j6EI6MPr6FJSzjT69Cvw-o/s320/coremarkers_black+barrels_final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503845722634435618" border="0" /></a>Each package explains how Crayola is lessening the impact on the environment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylVmjft5Yn4sPckTw0FgujNtAIcpLVyitDYJz_Gey25rKZKIPyJgqGL3u9x-1J0h0ddYyOhe9M1iDKSfJWKY2N-_QL5M7tUZ4dHqvkXNvSKzafLaftOsRamJauaXArK8Qy1s99LAV2qv6/s1600/corecrayons24ctopenbox_final.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylVmjft5Yn4sPckTw0FgujNtAIcpLVyitDYJz_Gey25rKZKIPyJgqGL3u9x-1J0h0ddYyOhe9M1iDKSfJWKY2N-_QL5M7tUZ4dHqvkXNvSKzafLaftOsRamJauaXArK8Qy1s99LAV2qv6/s320/corecrayons24ctopenbox_final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503845719042716290" border="0" /></a>My girls put the new supplies to an early test, and they reported that the new markers, colored pencils, and crayons worked just as well as the old ones. Just as good, and better for the earth. It's a win-win.<br /><br />If you would like to win a back-to-school pack, leave me a comment and tell me what is (or was) your favorite school supply to buy. Winner will be chosen Tuesday, August 17. US addresses only, please.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;" ><b>Crayola provided me with the products, information, and giveaway through MyBlogSpark for this review and giveaway. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any other way for this post.</b></span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-68625524608243853242010-06-02T09:09:00.004-04:002010-06-02T15:24:54.077-04:00BJ's Spring Clothing Line: REVIEWWe have been members of several warehouse club stores in the past, but our favorite has been BJ's. We like that BJ's accepts manufacturer's coupons in addition to their own coupons, carries brands you will find in the grocery or discount store, and accepts major credit cards. And their store brand diapers are great (and cheap)!<br /><br />Recently, I was contacted by BJ's regarding their new spring line of clothing. According to my contact, you can dress a family of four for under $100.<br /><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><div style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Spring highlights include:</span></div><div style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Men’s IZOD Short Sleeve Polo – 100% cotton. Available in a variety of colors. Small – XXL. $14.99-$16.99 ($50 Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP))</span></li></ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Men’s Nautica Jeans – Assorted washes. Sizes 32-42. $19.99 (Compare to more than $49.50 at department stores)</span></li></ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Women’s Liz Wear Knit Top– Short sleeve chiffon trim mixed media top. Available</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> in various colors. Small – XL $14.99 ($39.99 MSRP)</span></li></ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Women’s Liz Wear Crop Pant – Available in black, khaki, chocolate an</span><span style="font-size:100%;">d olive</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. Sizes 4-18. $19.99 (Compare to $65 at department stores) </span></li></ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Girl’s Nicole Miller Knit Tops & Capri Sets – Charmeuse and knit tops with capri bottoms in various colors and patterns. Sizes 12-4T. $12.99 (Compare to $38) </span></li></ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Boy’s Wes & Willy T-shirt & Short Sets – Graphic tee and nylon short sets in</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> various colors. Sizes 3-8. $12.99 (Compare to $39) </span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">= $98.94 BJ’s pricing, $291.49 value</span></b></span><br /><br /></div></span>BJ's offered me a $25 gift card to try out some spring things for the girls. There were a bunch of cute choices:<br /><br /><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKnElXQmdqXb4w2pQcwKmepNkdYHZjHAwGnPP9iz7H24tKyVIUUN7JdIzHpN57sIYSe7wDmVrNOjkLiV7RYfXwCen6sHF92cTTZ3xSM-xrvmag3nef9sElEFaTE-5D0PziA8CvDGHxrhD/s1600/IMG00046-20100521-1113.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKnElXQmdqXb4w2pQcwKmepNkdYHZjHAwGnPP9iz7H24tKyVIUUN7JdIzHpN57sIYSe7wDmVrNOjkLiV7RYfXwCen6sHF92cTTZ3xSM-xrvmag3nef9sElEFaTE-5D0PziA8CvDGHxrhD/s320/IMG00046-20100521-1113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478258126648199154" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpJQP3lrNIfbX5SUQFurmo_wy2TKkBODaVkDVNNg1OoRaf4X2lpFXcL8EPGQ2wd3YkojEgkR3hHgImKI09MJ9SRFbzmT0Bad6i7eXn0pb_LH5-isXZeyKMBl-1LESwPqcdjGAq0G1A900/s1600/IMG00045-20100521-1113.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpJQP3lrNIfbX5SUQFurmo_wy2TKkBODaVkDVNNg1OoRaf4X2lpFXcL8EPGQ2wd3YkojEgkR3hHgImKI09MJ9SRFbzmT0Bad6i7eXn0pb_LH5-isXZeyKMBl-1LESwPqcdjGAq0G1A900/s320/IMG00045-20100521-1113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478258121725644098" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />But as soon as Sydney saw the Dolly and Me outfits, we were sold.<br /><br /><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmIKpP0F6JJ9-167vK_dp5x3NmPH6bbQIeoh97DxQgLvTACjmSVSeFKx2kRkLU-hw0VVx17p7t1AOvUvE4_QkuzXfXAVBIoX3U9IJMCH2PuEXS8ih9OH1kqT9d8T9-v4vIMbAoc34x1Vq/s1600/IMG00044-20100521-1108.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmIKpP0F6JJ9-167vK_dp5x3NmPH6bbQIeoh97DxQgLvTACjmSVSeFKx2kRkLU-hw0VVx17p7t1AOvUvE4_QkuzXfXAVBIoX3U9IJMCH2PuEXS8ih9OH1kqT9d8T9-v4vIMbAoc34x1Vq/s320/IMG00044-20100521-1108.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478258116954368162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Too cute, girls!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmIKpP0F6JJ9-167vK_dp5x3NmPH6bbQIeoh97DxQgLvTACjmSVSeFKx2kRkLU-hw0VVx17p7t1AOvUvE4_QkuzXfXAVBIoX3U9IJMCH2PuEXS8ih9OH1kqT9d8T9-v4vIMbAoc34x1Vq/s1600/IMG00044-20100521-1108.jpg"><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TV_avAjjwXBV01VhXbxIzauBtimUfDDBjJswL89_rD81Y1oVKcwCVx3BrWpjStYId6vvY6_ojaWqimDgkql7YmQN7Zj-AdfqX8DJNJNGS1W2sah0IcXIpK2T8GqdJYZVl7KsSQiUw0FO/s1600/IMG00049-20100521-1624.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TV_avAjjwXBV01VhXbxIzauBtimUfDDBjJswL89_rD81Y1oVKcwCVx3BrWpjStYId6vvY6_ojaWqimDgkql7YmQN7Zj-AdfqX8DJNJNGS1W2sah0IcXIpK2T8GqdJYZVl7KsSQiUw0FO/s320/IMG00049-20100521-1624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478258130941346482" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>If you are not a member of BJ's, you can print out a <a href="http://www.bjs.com/about/news/content/item1,127.shtml?sc_cid=PRMediaOutreachPass">free 60-day membership pass</a>, which must be activated by July 5, 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">BJ's provided me with a gift card to try out their new spring line. All opinions are my own. Pricing information provided by BJ's.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-4092418249462085182010-05-19T21:11:00.006-04:002010-05-19T22:36:07.780-04:00LikeWear Clothing: GIVEAWAYAlthough this week in Philadelphia has been rainy and chilly, I am pretty sure that it is finally time to pack away the warm clothes and pull out the T-shirts and shorts. But sometimes when I pull out the tubs, the old stuff doesn't quite look so cute anymore...<br /><br />So that's why I was excited when <a href="http://www.likewear.com/">LikeWear</a> and MomSelect offered me a chance to try out a new concept in kids' (and adults') clothing design. LikeWear allows customers to choose from tons of popular graphics and apply them to a variety of different clothing items to come up with custom clothing so you can "Wear What You Like!"<br /><br />I picked out two items for Audrey:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzz_ufd3Sj5FFghPpqioE0HazVXfvl_IwddlfwFPN9oDqm0uDXWNetPdOgDrjwzGLBzzgQGVp9qKMAAQLkgxlT9Al8W1sDS2eOwqgcUA9VHaf5nutGJC9lPB-FMza7xP04GVIxPNFPW-e/s1600/conv+heart+shirt.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzz_ufd3Sj5FFghPpqioE0HazVXfvl_IwddlfwFPN9oDqm0uDXWNetPdOgDrjwzGLBzzgQGVp9qKMAAQLkgxlT9Al8W1sDS2eOwqgcUA9VHaf5nutGJC9lPB-FMza7xP04GVIxPNFPW-e/s320/conv+heart+shirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473157447609798082" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not sure you can see it, but this one is a long-sleeved layered look shirt with a heart made of conversation hearts. Very cute, and great for early spring or these chilly days we've been having.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAqKkxFsPf_QIWYcGJ-2pf9yXD38e8kzjuJl9rZbpE8eguahotC1HmORosmhx1PgMGGBR4_lWE1WyeYHETVu7Q-3Z_frfLI-eestpOvdeCNEaTRU3Qm9QKEjKb4vwRvqEoogmEQUvLwPI/s1600/tootsie+pop+shirt.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAqKkxFsPf_QIWYcGJ-2pf9yXD38e8kzjuJl9rZbpE8eguahotC1HmORosmhx1PgMGGBR4_lWE1WyeYHETVu7Q-3Z_frfLI-eestpOvdeCNEaTRU3Qm9QKEjKb4vwRvqEoogmEQUvLwPI/s320/tootsie+pop+shirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473157452364634402" border="0" /></a>This one is a short-sleeved t-shirt with a strawberry Tootsie Roll Pop on the front.<br /><br />LikeWear has a TON of different designs to choose from, anything from popular cereals, to candy of MANY kinds, to sports and just cute icons.<br /><br />Their website is not too fancy, and was easy to navigate. The only problem I had was that I couldn't find any sizing chart so I just guessed and ordered size Medium in both shirts. They both ended up being too big for Audrey (but they will fit her next year). I would've liked to have been able to use her measurements or regular sizes to correlate with the sizes they offer.<br /><br />Since the shirts are too big for her, I haven't washed them yet, but they seem to be high-quality and are definitely made of thick and soft fabric. The graphics are bold and bright, and look like they will last through many washings. And hopefully through three girls!<br /><br />The interesting and unique thing about LikeWear is that it is a direct marketing company, where people can sell the products at home parties (I'm sure you can think of other examples of direct marketing companies). So they are not only a company started by parents, they support parents trying to make money for their families.<br /><br />The best part? LikeWear is offering one of my readers a $50 merchandise credit to try out their clothing for yourself. To enter, just visit their <a href="http://www.likewear.com/">website </a>and tell me which graphic you might pick if you win! Be sure there is a way for me to contact you through your Blogger profile or in your comment, or you will forfeit your win.<br /><br />But for all my readers, LikeWear is offering a special discount--25% off your entire purchase! Just enter the code OCCUPATIONMOMMY when you place your order. Code expires 6/19/10.<br /><br />US addresses only, please. Contest ends Monday, May 31.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I was provided a gift certificate to choose some items to try, as well as a gift certificate to give away, by LikeWear and MomSelect. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-42614517230110287602010-05-19T20:57:00.003-04:002010-05-19T21:08:11.324-04:00Lamaze Play and Grow Doll: REVIEW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYl98gq18dJV1v7483l2n_MkZn3h2BJhIoQOLYL0t9tLcYm6NULXA4Rasjy2XXyPr_0h66prQgOUVYe3WuBrXFhlf5lGZ-7m1_m0a9jqke2JF6dUpjocdiAAZ76yIpriT_6vvnYZEh55D/s1600/lamaze+doll.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYl98gq18dJV1v7483l2n_MkZn3h2BJhIoQOLYL0t9tLcYm6NULXA4Rasjy2XXyPr_0h66prQgOUVYe3WuBrXFhlf5lGZ-7m1_m0a9jqke2JF6dUpjocdiAAZ76yIpriT_6vvnYZEh55D/s320/lamaze+doll.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473150611927440258" border="0" /></a>I was recently sent the <a href="http://www.ebeanstalk.com/Lamaze/toy-product-detail/My-Friend-Emily-Doll.html">Lamaze My Friend Emily Doll</a> to review. My little ones always liked Lamaze toys as infants, we have owned several over the years. This Emily doll is equally fun, with bright colors, crinkles, rattles, textures, and jingles. She has a nice big link on her hat to hang her from the stroller so she won't get lost and she has a friendly smile to keep baby's attention.<br /><br />Ebeanstalk is a website that sorts <a href="http://www.ebeanstalk.com/">toys by age</a> and includes many categories of <a href="http://www.ebeanstalk.com/">kids toys</a>. There are <a href="http://www.ebeanstalk.com/">educational toys</a> for all ages and even a nice assortment of books.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ebeanstalk sent me the Lamaze My Friend Emily Doll to review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post, and the opinions expressed are my own.</span><br /><a href="http://www.ebeanstalk.com/"></a>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-795713295567899692010-04-27T20:58:00.002-04:002010-04-27T21:00:13.112-04:00Mr. Clean Magic Eraser: WINNER!Congratulations, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16908859022102034063">melanie</a>, you are the winner of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser! It will be on its way once I get your address.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more great giveaways coming up!Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211258367123531838.post-36208072137740911962010-04-27T20:05:00.002-04:002010-04-27T20:53:07.197-04:00My Job ChartI don't know about you, but getting my girls to complete their responsibilities each day can be a struggle. I have to remind them multiple times to do things that I think should be old hat by now.<br /><br />That's why I was intrigued when I heard about <a href="http://www.myjobchart.com">My Job Chart</a>. This is an online chore tracking system that allows kids to keep track of the chores they have completed and earn rewards. <br /><br />Audrey, Georgia and I spent some time setting up our family account. Each child in the family has her own password and can be assigned chores. Chores can be assigned for morning, evening, or both, and for every day, once weekly, as a one-time thing, or on certain days that repeat each week. And for each chore, parents assign a number of points children earn.<br /><br />Then, parents can give a point value to any number of tangible and non-tangible rewards that kids can work toward. For example, we decided that going out for a Rita's water ice would cost 300 points. Since brushing their teeth twice a day alone is going to get them 10 points, it is a reward that will not take long to acquire.<br /><br />My only hang-up is that this could turn into just another thing for me to nag them about. It remains to be seen, though. Right now my plan is to leave the site open on our desktop in the dining room, so they can easily log in and track their chores. Since they both love using the computer for any reason, I look forward to seeing a decrease in my involvement in their daily routine. My full review of the helpfulness of this site is forthcoming.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Disclosure: I received a gift card from <a href="http://www.momselect.com">MomSelect</a> in exchange for checking out this website. My opinions are my own.</span>Amy from Occupation: Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537676509850272801noreply@blogger.com0