Classic Pink U-Collar Cachcach Girls Swing Dress in sizes for Toddlers & Girls

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

This Cachcach girls summer dress is exclusively available now til July 6, 2010  from Zulily.com for just $17.99 (regular $40) 

 

Cach is French for "hide and seek" and I think this darling dress, available in various styles and prints, is a great find.  There's something classically vintage yet fresh about this adorable swing dress.  Perfect for warm summer days as well as family portraits with its lovely floral print in woven cotton, exquisite tulle at the bottom (a detail I absolutely love), and knit trim neckline with a retro-style bow.  Elastic at the back for fit.  

The regular price for this is $40 which is quite reasonable for such a stylish outfit.  Lucky for MommyBlogExpert's readers though -- it's on sale right now exclusively at Zulily.com for just $17.99

• 100% cotton
• Machine wash; tumble dry
• Imported

Available for a limited time at Zulily.com in girls size 2T (toddler) to size 5.  But hurry this only went up for sale today and are selling fast.  In fact, some sizes larger and smaller of this particular style have already sold out in this limited run sale that ends July 6 at 7 am PST 

What is Zulily, anyway?
Zulily.com is an online marketplace where you can buy top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids (both boys and girls).  Members can save up to 70% off retail prices—not to mention discover all the exciting new brands showcasing their products here.   Only members can shop their sales, but membership is free and sign up is fast and easy.  After you register, be sure to invite your friends to join, too.  As the Zulily shopping community grows, so will their ability to offer you even better prices and selection.

Based in Seattle, Washington, Zulily.com was formed by retail and e-commerce veterans.  They're dedicated to bringing their members great finds at great prices, as well as giving emerging brands a place to showcase their products.

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert is a guest columnisf for Zulily's Blog.  However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any products, payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

A Mom's Manual That Really is a Must-Have to Survive Birth to Age 6 - BOOK REVIEW

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Don't you just hate it when friends or family give you unsolicited advice about raising your kids?  How about feeling that as a mother you must always be doing the same things for your own children that your friends are doing for their's?   And last, but certainly not least, why is it you feel guilty getting a babysitter so that you can go out alone for some quality time with your hubbie once in awhile?

Readers: Don't Forget, after reading this book review to leave a comment below this post sharing the most annoying piece of unsolicited parenting advice you've ever received as a mom.

After you've read The Must-Have Mom Manual from Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, your answers to all those and many other questions about parenting will likely change for the better.  That's at least the essence of what real-life mommies and friends Sara Ellington and Stephanie Triplett intended when they co-authored this unique advice guide for successfully navigating the modern challenges of motherhood from birth to age six.

Ellington, an ultra-organized, bottle-feeding mom who left her job to stay at home and Triplett, a self-described messy, breast-feeding mom who went back to work outside the home, are as different as night and day.  Nevertheless, these two women do an amazing job of finally bringing forward a huge and important concept lurking in the sub-conscious minds of mothers everywhere:  The fact that there really is no one way to be a good mom.  In the words of the introduction, "There is no one-size-fits-all formula for motherhood.  This book is about making your life easier as a mom and paring down a lot of information modern moms have to deal with."

The Must-Have Mom Manual is a book that you will be tempted to approach like any other parenting guide you may have looked at before -- especially if you are feeling desperate.  I mean what mom of us doesn't feel that way at one time or another?.  A word of warning about that:  don't just dive right in.  Instead, take your time getting to know Sara and Stephanie, reading the introduction thoroughly first, before going on to referencing specific chapters because the intro otherwise known as "Momology" is full of valuable insights that will help you get the most out of this book.

Pictured at left are the authors' first children, both daughters, that were born 3 weeks apart.  The girls, who each have since been joined by a brother, are now in elementary school.

Everyone has unrealistic expectations about how wonderful things will be before we become moms.  We might even still be in denial after our beautiful babies have arrived.  Sooner or later, though, we eventually all come to realize that those "magazine moments," as described so aptly by Ellington, are in reality, "far and few."  This book helps put that runaway dream to rest for good, not only for those of us who are already mothers but for those who are now in the before-children honeymoon phase.  Keep reading and you'll discover the authors' list Thirteen Things Not to Feel Guilty About which includes -- among other things -- actually feeling good about getting a babysitter so you can get out of the house without the kids regularly either for a girls' night out or for a romantic dinner for two with your DH.   All that and a whole lot more you'll read and learn about -- before you even finish the first 16 pages of this book.

Practically speaking, beyond the introduction, this book continues to be structured well and speak to mothers as if we are gathered as friends to air our frustrations about our little ones during a playdate.  The title's all-important heavy-duty Momology is followed by 11 substantial chapters with sub-chapters within each to make it easy to zero in on the things that concern moms most.   Green mommies, especially, you'll also be glad to know there are "Clutter-Busting Resources" listed at the end of each part with helpful website addresses and recommended books.  The authors certainly have cut down the research and paper work us moms might have had to do otherwise.

The first chapter, At the Hospital, has an excellent section giving new dads advice on ways -- for example -- of showing their appreciation to the new mother.  After all, no man has any idea of what pregnancy and childbirth are really like, right?  This is followed by chapters that truly speak to moms on coping with baby when she/he comes home for the first time and maximizing the every day life experiences with your child.  Later chapters offer modern advice for a host of other essentials: managing and organizing your household; ensuring the health of your family; enhancing your marriage; balancing work, home, and life; dealing with an expanding family (both new humans and pets), and lastly sharing with others like ourselves in the Mother to Mother chapter.

Get an insider's peek at this book by reading an excerpt from The Must-Have Mom Manual here.  Below is a photo of the authors from Sara's Facebook page.

Overall, this book is quite good and useful.  To be fair, for sure, it covers ground that has not been covered before in a title targeting the motherhood and parenting niches.  However, there are a couple of things that can be improved upon.

First, this manual (even though the title implies it's just for moms) only gives new fathers advice for right after delivery in the book's beginning.  If moms are going to get their significant others to read this and subscribe to its teachings, and ultimately, get our partners to help when we need them most, there ought to be specific tips for dads in every chapter, at every stage.  Women often know naturally what to do and say as mothers, but I think you really need to spell things out for fathers since they don't mind read nor do they speak Woman-ese.  Men need more blatant prompts now and then, otherwise how will they know exactly what we moms need or expect from them?

The only other shortcoming I see with this advice book is that it ends when your child reaches 6, because that's the stage the authors were at when they wrote this title.  As those of us who have older kids know (I'm in the heat of the teen years with 13 year-old TRIPLETS, plus big brother, 14 now) there are challenges at every stage beyond that age.  In fact,  some moms -- myself included -- might argue that it only gets harder to raise our children the older they get.  

For all of our sakes, I hope these two clever mom authors who have brought us moms a truly must-have guide to making it to kindergarten are working on a sequel to address issues that us mom will all have to contend with as we muddle our ways through our kids' elementary, middle and high school years.  Moms, though, with children six and under are truly lucky to have a reference like this available to them right now.

The Must-Have Mom Manual by Sara Ellington and Stephanie Triplett, 544 pages, Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, 2009, ISBN 978-0-345-49987-5.  Cover price $17 (U.S.) and $20 (Canada) and available in book stores and from online booksellers.

MommyBlogExpert Wants Your Comments Below
What's the most annoying piece of unsolicited parenting advice you've ever received as a mommy?  Please feel free to vent keeping in mind that this blog's content is family-friendly, and leave a comment about it below this post.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert received a copy of The Must-Have Mom Manual for review but did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Distance Online Learning - It's Much More than Putting a Middleschool or High School Student in Front of a Computer

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Kids studying academically via the Internet seem to be getting a lot of bad rap from both students and parents lately.  In fact, misconceptions all around about what distance learning is and what its benefits are continue to persist even as computer-based learning is increasing in popularity.

As a homeschooling mom of four gifted students (triplets going into 8th and big brother going to 10th grade), this lack of understanding frustrates me because my own kids have benefited greatly from computer-based classes both offered through their public school independent study program and through Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.  Not only are they doing well in this multi-media high tech school arrangement, they are also proving to be happy and well-adjusted as well as equally adept at socializing compared to their peers studying in traditional school environments.

The impressive findings from a recent survey should be enlightening to those who may still be biased against learning in front of a computer screen.  In this study, it was found that compared to traditional learning environments, online learning is proving to be an effective way in teaching today's "iGeneration" who live in a world of customized and instant feedback.

More specifically the results of the study found

• 72% of online students spend three or more hours on homework per week vs. 56% of students in traditional schooling.
• 54% of online students get more challenges when they are doing well in school vs. 49% of students in traditional schooling.
• 58% of online students get more help when they fall behind vs. 40% of students in traditional schooling.
• 78% vs. 67% of online students have more interest in attending a four year college after graduation than students in traditional schooling.

With statistics like those, school administrators, teachers, students, and parents would all be wise to reconsider and become more open minded about everything online learning has to offer -- whether we are talking about a charter school, virtual learning academy, or traditional classroom looking to augment its curriculum cost-effectively.  Among other providers offering such services is KC Distance Learning (KCDL) .  This organization is one example of an online interactive academic program which offers online learning options to fit all types of students and learning situations, whether looking to expand educational opportunities by offering a wide range of AP courses to advanced learners, helping at-risk students catch up with credit recovery and/or accommodating students' unique scheduling needs without adding the expense or infrastructure of additional staff or classrooms.

Computers and technology aren't going to go away, they're in our kids' lives for good.  Why shouldn't we help the world's future leaders leverage the Internet now so that they will be better prepared for tomorrow?

Are you pro or con the virtual learning concept?  MommyBlogExpert encourages you to leave your comment and explain why you feel the way you do. 

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert has received a gift card from MomSelect in exchange for the opinions expressed in this post.  No monetary exchange took place.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

FREE Eli's Cheesecake THIS SATURDAY June 26, 2010 - 30th Birthday Celebration

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com 
Wishes Eli's Cheesecake a Very Special 30th Birthday!!!

The Band from TV, along with other personas, will be helping celebrate the 30th anniversary of Eli's Cheesecake THIS WEEKEND in Chicago and they're inviting the public to help celebrate.  

I wish I could be there to celebrate myself, but unfortunately I'll be on the West Coast.  What I can do is tell you how delicious Eli's specialty desserts are because my family and I have tasted these on numerous occasions and I've blogged about the brand before here and here. 

My kids (triplets plus one more born within a year) and I visited the factory some summers ago and we each tried a slice in a different cheesecake flavor after the tour, plus Eli's very nice president, Marc Schulman, sent us home on the plane with a huge chocolate and peanut butter cheese cake packed in dry ice.  So I can say that every kind we tried related to that trip was just awesome.  I still can't find the family photos from that visit, but I do intend to write an entire blogpost about that experience when I do.

If you're local to the corporate office in Chicago this weekend, be sure to visit Eli's on Saturday at Buckingham Fountain, 1:00pm, for a FREE slice of their mouthwatering 2,000 lb. cheesecake!  

Pictured above is Eli's Candy Crazy Cheesecake Sampler.  It's a good thing they sell all their cakes online and air ship with dry ice to customers so even those of you who've never been to Chicago can still experience it first-hand.  My own family hasn't tried this particular variety ourselves yet, but it looks absolutely scrumptious and I have no doubt it will taste even better.

Helping celebrate the company's milestone this Saturday are some very special guest cake cutters from  The Band From TV

• James Denton (ABC's "Desperate Housewives")
• Greg Grunberg (NBC's "Heroes" and "Love Bites")
• Jessie Spencer (Fox's "House") 
  
• Bob Guiney ("The Bachelor" and daily host of GSN)
• Adrian Pasdar ("Heroes", "Desperate Housewives")
• Scott Grimes ("American Dad", "ER" and "Robin Hood")

All these celebrities will join Eli’s son and company President, Marc Schulman, as well as other VIPs in a round of “Happy Birthday” and will be on hand to cut the super-sized treat which will be served FREE to the public.

Eli's Cheesecake

Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, June 26, 1:00pm
Buckingham Fountain
(southeast corner)
FREE Event

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.   

11 Ideas to Keep Young Minds Active During Summer Months - Enriching Children

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com Guestpost 

Text by Dr. Mary Zurn, Primrose Schools

Photos by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert

1. Boredom Buster Jar  At the beginning of summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or together.  Encourage children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar  Next, write everyone's ideas down on paper and as a group decide which ones go in the jar.  Then, when the summertime blues appear, kids can pull an idea out of this Boredom Buster Jar.

2. Stories Alive  It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important ways to keep young minds engaged during the summer.  Make reading more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life.  For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations.  Read the book with your children and then challenge

them to create their own town with materials they find in the yard.

3. Art Start Box  Gather basic art supplies-child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there's always something new for the children to discover. 

4. Family Performances  Break out old clothes, costumes, and unwanted fashion accessories, as well as pots and pans and other household objects to use as musical instruments, and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out or have a parade.  Record or video the performances, and enjoy the replay together.  You'll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come.

5. Family Dance Party  Crank up the music and encourage your entire family to boogie down.  Dancing not only expends pent-up energy, it  gives children a great outlet for self-expression through their own motion and helps build self-esteem. It also enhances motor and coordination by incorporating skills like jumping, landing and leaping.  Best of all, dancing is a great activity that can involve the whole family and doesn't take very much

preparation.

6. Fort Building  Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers.  Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours.  All the items you need can be found around the house -- some chairs, cushions, blankets, and of course adult supervision.

7. Cookbook Fun  Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children?  Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try.  Measuring can be a

fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh.  Remember, to include adult supervision whenever kids are in the kitchen.

8. Summer Scrapbook  All you need for this project is a spiral notebook.  Encourage

everyone in the family to draw pictures of favorite activities and collect mementos from special events all summer. Children love to go back through scrapbooks to recall their memories.  They will also be building their storytelling skills at the same time.

9. Listening Game  Lie down in the backyard, in the den or at the park and listen.  What do you hear?  Do you hear what I hear?  Can you imitate the sound?  This is similar to watching the clouds and naming the shapes, and it encourages everyone to slow down and focus on listening.

10. Camping Out  Pretend to camp out in the backyard. Plan a meal, pack a backpack and set up a campsite. You might even decide to spend the night!

11. Scavenger Hunt  Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list.  Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition.

For more info on Dr. Zurn visit www.drzandme.com 

and Primrose Schools www.primroseschools.com

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.   No monetary exchange took place. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Now Kids Can Play With Their Rice, While Eating More Healthfully Too - Product Review

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Don't miss the money saving Uncle Ben's store coupon link at the bottom of this blogpost

Uncle Ben's Rice is a part of Americana recalled fondly from my childhood growing up in the 60s.  But this well-known icon has actually been around a lot longer than I have since the first Uncle Ben's Rice brand was marketed way back in 1943.   So, when Mom Central invited me -- along with an elite group of other mommy influencer bloggers -- to attend a small cooking party in L.A. last month launching Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice, I accepted immediately.

The May event unfolded on a perfect spring evening in the interactive kitchen and adjoining outdoor patio of L.A. Food Works in the tony Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.  It was equally fun and educational because I got to visit with other California blogging mothers such as Busy Mommy, as well as to learn and cook side-by-side with professional chefs like Rose Le Boeuf.  Everyone I talked to at the gathering loved the Uncle Ben's professional apron we each received as well as the goody bag and product samples sent home with us shown in the photo at left.  An added tidbit worth noting: Upon arriving home, my own kids went absolutely wild over the Uncle Ben's Rice box-shaped flash drive tucked inside the gift bag.

The new Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice line includes Long Grain (which comes plain with no seasoning), as well as Chicken, Broccoli Cheddar, Taco Style, Sweet Tomato, and Garden Vegetable flavored varieties.  Each Uncle Ben's selection provides a good source of fiber.  Additionally, according to the brand, the White Rice Long Grain variety contains 45g of whole grains in a single serving which is close to the total whole grains (48g) that the USDA Dietary Guidelines recommends each person should consume each day.  With a suggested retail price of $2.29, all newly introduced Uncle Ben's rice choices are expected to be available starting in July at grocery retailers. nationwide.  

Uncle Ben's crew demonstrated for us at this mom blogger's  affair in L.A. Food Work's gourmet kitchen how to use the new products in some pretty clever recipes such as "Sneaky Chef Pizza Rice Balls" that are intended to appeal to kids.  This and other concoctions cooked up for us are from Missy Chase Lapine's book The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals.  

So, after I returned home I started thinking.  Why hide this healthy rice in food for kids?  Instead, I decided to showcase it and make it fun.  That's what inspired me to come up with my own unique take on cooking with rice so kids will love eating it.   The original Fun Healthy Rice Shapes pictured below are really easy to put together, either for your kids as a snack after school or to serve as a side dish with lunch or dinner.  They're equally delightful as a do-it-yourself cooking craft for you to do with your children. 

Fun Healthy Rice Shapes Recipe, by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com
All you do is follow the cooking directions on the rice's package.  I don't use pre-seasoned rices for my own family so I chose plain Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice instead for this project.  But you can use any of Uncle Ben's rice products or any other brand of rice to make these easy treats.  

After the rice is cooked you gently use a spoon to pack the product, while still warm into metal or plastic cookie cutters that are open on the top.  You can also use pancake molds such as the cow pictured here, used create the rice treats above.  Then just let them cool completely before unmolding carefully. My kids and I decorated the heart and cow with dried apricot and cherry bits to make them more colorful and appetizing, but any other healthy garnishes that are edible work equally well.

I also did an experiment, shown in this photo of a side-by-side comparison of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice Long Grain (on right side) and a generic brand of white rice (on left side).  It's easy to see from this picture that Uncle Ben's new whole grain product, even though it is called "white rice," is really an off white color when it's cooked.  I did try a trick from my heirloom 1950s Betty Crocker Cook Book that suggests adding a bit of lemon juice when cooking the rice to make it whiter, but Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice still appeared off white after cooking, although it was no where near as dark as conventional cooked brown rice might be.  Despite the lack of whiteness, I think kids will still find Uncle Ben's new line appetizing and tasty.  At the same time, parents who serve this will get the satisfaction of knowing their children are getting extra nutrition from eating more whole grains.

Get a money savings coupon good on any Uncle Ben's rice product here and don't forget to tell them that you heard about it on MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

What's your favorite way to get your kids to eat their vegetables?  Please leave a comment and share it.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert was invited to attend the cooking event described that was hosted by Uncle Ben's.   I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben's and received a gift bag, apron, and the product necessary to facilitate my candid review.  In addition, I received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Naturally Nora Cake Mixes GIVEAWAY CONTEST

WIN a 3-Box Gift Pack of Naturally Nora Cake Mixes

Entering this MommyBlogExpert Giveaway is E-A-S-Y
Now till July 21, 2010

To be eligible to win a 3-Box Naturally Nora Cake Mix Gift Pack, a brand which was recently reviewed on MommyBlogExpert, just complete the 2 simple required steps below.  

For Required (MAIN) Entry

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AND

2. Leave a comment below mentioning why it's important for your family to eat products made with natural ingredients

For EXTRA (optional) Entries to Win

Do one or both of these steps below to earn extra chances to win. 

• Subscribe to the MommyBlogExpert Blog
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You can ALSO earn additional entry each and every time you retweet the message EXACTLY below (cut and paste to avoid errors) about this contest as long as you post a comment with the link to your Tweet within an hour of posting to Twitter

Naturally Nora Cake Mix 3-Pack GIVEAWAY Made w/ Natural Ingredients #contest #kids  http://tinyurl.com/2d2gvc8 RT to WIN
 

Additional Contest Rules:  Only U.S. legal residents eligible to win.  One Naturally Nora Cake Mix 3-box prize package to be awarded, valued at approx $15.  Limit of one main contest entry per day.  Contest runs now through July 21, 2010 at 12 a.m. PST.  Winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email.

After entering to win this contest by leaving a comment below, be sure to check out the other MommyBlogExpert giveaways currently offered here

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert received samples of the Naturally Nora products pictured in this post for review.  For this MommyBlogExpert giveaway contest Naturally Nora is providing a 3-pack of their cake mixes for the prize.  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post or giveaway contest.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.   

Ty The T-Rex Dinosaur Incredibed

Review

I have to say that as a mom of four (triplets, plus one more born within a year) and as a mommy blogger who is constantly pitched by brands with some pretty cool ideas, I've never seen anything quite like this.  Based on my initial reaction, I'm betting that kids will actually look forward to bedtime with this fairy tale friendly dinosaur-themed kid's bed pictured here from Incredibeds of Orlando, Florida.

T-Rex Incredibed Giveaway - Details Below

According to the maker, this bed is suitable for children ages 3 and up, but that parents may add the matching bumper transition sheets  (available separately for an additional $29) to this, making it an ideal transitional bed for toddlers as young as 18 months old who are ready to move out of their cribs.

The animal-shaped bed, made from hypoallergenic materials, is 100% machine wash and dry. It's also simple to set up, zipping around the outside of a standard 39" x 75" American or 36" x 80" European twin mattress and box spring that you provide.  Most importantly, "It is consumer-tested and safety-approved," says dad Jeremy Maloney, who first made one of these stuffed animal-like bed creations for his own child.

The Incredibeds Ty, the Tyrannosaurus plush bed frame retails for $339 and includes his signature eyes and black hair piece,4 furniture glides (which adhere to the bottom of your mattress's box spring), 2 round pillows with one rectangle pillow, and pockets in the hands to give themselves a hug or to "knock the scary's out of the room."  The exterior fabric is 100% polyester, while the interior lining is 100% cotton with 100% hypoallergenic polyester fill.  The included zipper sheet is 100% woven cotton.  Optional matching sheets, called Bedjammies, available separately.

Surprisingly, this child's bedroom furniture concept is quite functional, yet also is designed for fun, comfort and safety.  A total of six different Incredibed cozy, cuddly plush bed frame characters are now available in stores and online including Ty, the Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaur for boys that is the focus of this MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com review, plus two other models for little guys: Duke the Dog and Bo the Grizzly Bear.  Girls can choose from Penelope the Girl Grizzly Bear, Daisy the Female Floppy-Earred Dog, and Rexy the Girl T-Rex.  As you might imagine, each of these comes with its own animal personality and story, too.

The Incredibeds are available at retailers such as Toys R' Us, Babies R' Us, Amazon.com, MorFurniture For Less, Rooms to Go, and others.  For more details, current availability, and store locations visit The Incredibeds or 800-991-2372.

Giveaway Details

WIN a Ty the T-Rex Incredibed (a $339 value) PLUS a matching set of Bedjammies Sheets (a $64.99 value) as pictured in this MommyBlogExpert review.  See giveaway rules & entry information below this blogpost. 

Entering this MommyBlogExpert Giveaway is E-A-S-Y

To be eligible to win the Incredibeds Ty the T-Rex ($339 value) PLUS a matching set of Bedjammies sheets ($64.99 value) as featured in this MommyBlogExpert review,  simply complete the 3 steps below for the MAIN Entry .  

For Required (MAIN) Entry:

1. Follow @MommyBlogExpert on Twitter 

AND
2. Follow @Incredibeds on Facebook
AND

3. Then leave a comment below this blogpost telling what you like most about Incredibeds being sure to include your contact info Twitter or Facebook handle so we can DM you if you are the winner.

For EXTRA (optional) Entries to Win

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2.  Fan @MommyBlogExpert on Facebook

Additional Contest Rules:  Only U.S. legal residents are eligible to win.  Prize Package:  One Ty the Tyrannosaurus Incredibed & matching Bedjammies Sheet Set, totaling $373+ in merchandise, to be awarded.  Limit of one main contest entry (required) with optional extra entries limited as described above.  Contest ends July 21, 2010 at 12 a.m. PST.  Winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email.

FTC Disclosure:  Incredibeds is providing the giveaway prizes offered.  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any product, payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.   

Twins Talent CASTING NOW for Twins/Triplets Kids in New York, L.A. for TV & Film Projects

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

As a triplet mom myself who's kids all worked in show business when they were little, I thought these children's television and feature film casting ops sounded too good not to share with my readers.

My good friends identical twins Debbie & Lisa Ganz of Twins Talent (pictured at left) just sent me a list of a bunch of REALLY HOT casting requests seeking twin and triplet children for TV, Film & Soap Opera projects in both New York and L.A.  This is one of the leading casting companies in the country not only for twins and triplets (kids as well as adults) but also for non-multiples looking for acting jobs in unscripted and reality TV.  

If you have multiples that fit the exact requirements for any of the opportunities below and are interested in getting your kids into acting, I encourage you to email Twins Talent immediately at billywonka@aol.com being sure to include all the information requested.

Twins Talent is Seeking Twins/Triplets NOW for

• Gossip Girls, NYC TV, looking for twins/triplets to play 3 month old identical twin boys -- preferably Caucasian.  Filming in New York only, so must live local.  Email a recent photo, with recent weight, inches, names and contact tel number.  Be sure to write 3 month old in subject line of email.
• Feature Film, NYC,  looking for identical Caucasian twins/triplets -- boys or girls -- must be local to nyc area 4 months old or younger. Email a recent photo, with recent weight, inches, names and contact tel number.  Be sure to write Smurfs in subject line of email.
• Soap Opera, NYC TV, looking for newborn - approx 10 pound or smaller Caucasian twins/triplets for one day shoot in NYC in June; must be local.  Email a recent photo, with recent weight, inches, names and contact tel number.
• Feature Film, Los Angeles, looking for 9-12 month old identical twin boys or twins/triplets that can pass for boys - must be local to L.A.  Email a recent photo, with recent weight, inches, names and contact tel number.

Remember, email billywonka@aol.com to submit your children for the immediate casting needs ASAP.  For more information about Twins Talent visit http://www.twinstalent.tv 

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Father's Day Homemade Craft Gifts for Kids & Families to Make Together for Dad

Fathers Day

More likely than not that special Dad in your life already has way too many neck ties and bottles of cologne, right?  So this year, why not help your kids make a really unique Father's Day gift for Daddy that he'll always cherish instead?  To get you inspired, here are my favorite easy-to-make arts and crafts for Dads, culled from a variety of sources, that you'll have a great time making with your kids and giving to that special man in your life.

The Funky Luggage Tags pictured above are definitely one of a kind and practical too.  See Family Fun for directions

Screen Printed Ties are an original idea that's fun to create.  Who says dear old Dad won't love one more tie if he receives this personalized one from you?  See HomeMade Simple for directions

Edible Dress Shirt and Tie Cake is almost too handsome to eat, but your special Daddy will enjoy it as much as your kids delight in making it for him.  Watch the Family Fun video below to cook this up, being sure to have your computer speaker turned on so you can watch & hear how to make this easy-to-make cake.  Also, visit Family Fun for more fun Father's Day craft project directions

What a cute dog sculpture this is! Easily made from golf balls this would be a memorable craft project that golf-playing Daddies will always cherish. To make this cutie from FamilyCrafts.About.com, see directions

Have a Fathers Day kid craft to share of your own? Please leave a comment below telling us about it, with a link to the project's directions if possible.  Happy Father's Day To All!

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15 Cheap Summer Activities to Do With Kids

by Janis Brett Elspas

Outside or Indoors, this list of free and inexpensive, easy-to-do activities will keep your kids busy all summer long, till school starts again in the fall.  Pictured at left is Mini Mommy Blogexpert, my daughter (now a teen) who started backyard gardening when she was just three years old.

Outdoor Activities
1. Have a backyard sailboat race.  Just fill a plastic kiddy pool, make homemade boats, and see which one is the fastest.
2. Have a nature scavenger hunt. Give kids a list of things found in nature and have them look in the yard for those items.
3. Have a seed-spitting contest. Who doesn’t love to eat a nice, cold watermelon and see how far you can spit the seeds?
4. Catch fireflies.  If you’re lucky enough to live in an area that has fireflies, make a firefly-catching jar by poking holes in the top of a pickle or mayonnaise jar. Just make sure you let them go.
5. Let your kids start a collection.  Just make sure it involves something cheap, like rocks they find. Or even better, use the digital camera to “collect” items they see but don’t want to hurt, like flowers.

Indoor Boredom Busters
6. Make paper airplanes.  Download templates from the Internet, use them as a starting point, and see just how far yours can fly.
7. Have a sleepover party.  Who needs overnight camp when you can have “sleepover camp” for your kids’ friends?
8. Play indoor volleyball.  Make sure it’s okay with Mom, and then use a beach ball to play, with the couch as the “net.”
9. Build a fort out of cardboard boxes.  Cardboard boxes are the best toys!  Decorate your fort with markers and glue, letting your imagination run wild.
10.Turn your kitchen into a restaurant.  Make the menus and let the kids be “waiters,” then they can take turns being the waiter and the customer.

What is your child's favorite summer fun activity. Please leave a comment below this post and share their ideas with other families.

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Raising KIDS To GIVE THEIR TIME Toward Community Volunteer Projects - Enter to Win $1000 Now in this Contest

by Janis Brett Elspas
MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

I'm a mom raising my own children to volunteer in the community frequently -- my hubbie, kids and I each donate more than 75 hours per year to various causes.  Pictured here are my girls painting the barn fence at historical Will Rogers State Park in California last month.  This was the most recent community service project, a Big Sunday event, that we participated in as a family.  In fact, our family has volunteered for Big Sunday since our youngest (triplets) were just two years old.

So, whenever I hear about programs such as this I'm always glad to pass on information to this blog's readers about organizations such as Kids Who Give which is currently holding a competition to recognize children who are donating their time to make this a better world.

The Details:
Kids Who Give will select 5 community-minded kids, ages 7-17.  Each winner will be honored with $1000 to be contributed to the cause of their choice. Hurry, deadline to enter is June 15, 2010. See contest rules and complete this entry form to nominate a deserving boy or girl.

About Kids Who Give
Kids Who Give is a national program created by Farm Rich, the frozen snacks and appetizers company, to recognize kids who give back to those in need and to also educate other interested kids on how to start giving back in their own communities.

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Cute Contemporary Baby Blankets that Are Uniquely Personalized - A Novel Gift Idea for Newborns

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Exclusively available now through June 16, 2010 

from Zulily.com for just $29.99 (regular $48) 

I just love these contemporary monogrammed blankies for baby, a gift that will be welcomed with glee by parents whether this is their first child or not.  Features a smooth print on one side and plush back. Great for getting cozy and for tummy time.  Pictured above is my personal favorite, the Pink Polka-Dot Signature Initial Blanket by Two Tinas.

Product Details

• Felt monogram included in price
• 30'' x 30''
• 100% cotton with poly/cotton fill
• Ultra-plush backing
• Machine wash; tumble dry
• Made in the USA

Also available in this Kaleidoscope Signature Initial Blanket as well as several other styles.

Zulily runs special savings events constantly featuring a delectable assortment of comparable other brands, too, with each sale limited to 72 hours in duration.  Many of the products showcased are from up-and-coming boutiques offering designs that are truly unique.

What is Zulily, anyway?
Zulily.com is an online marketplace where you can buy top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids (both boys and girls).  Members can save up to 70% off retail prices—not to mention discover all the exciting new brands showcasing their products here.   Only members can shop their sales, but membership is free and sign up is fast and easy.  After you register, be sure to invite your friends to join, too.  As the Zulily shopping community grows, so will their ability to offer you even better prices and selection.

Based in Seattle, Washington, Zulily.com was formed by retail and e-commerce veterans.  They're dedicated to bringing their members great finds at great prices, as well as giving emerging brands a place to showcase their products.

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert is a guest blogger for  Zulily's Blog.  However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any products, payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.