Keeping Kids Learning over the Summer with Summer Bridge Workbooks

Where did the time go? It's the end of July, and school is just around the corner. I'm a bit nervous at the thought of 3Po and Jammy entering kindergarten -- My babies! Will they miss me, being away from home for so long? Will they be ok in separate classrooms? and all that momma bear stuff -- but one thing I'm not worried about is whether they'll...

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How to Have the Perfect Night at BlogHer

Step 1. Have your neckline henna-tattooe'd by the most talented henna artist ever at the Social Luxe Lounge party. Put yourself entirely in her creative hands and allow her to transform your neckline into the only piece of bling you'll ever need to wear.Step 2. Squeeze into a SlimPerfect little black dress, which squeezes and slims you in (without...

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The Circus is Coming!

The last time I bought tickets to the circus, I wondered why I was doing it. It's just elephants and clowns, after all, how corny. But afterwards, I was amazed. It's really magical, and it's the kind of show you want to go and see year after year if you have young children. Except our year-after-year turned into 2, then 3, then 4 years. The...

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Dive, Olly Dive review and Giveaway

If you read any of my blogs, you'll know that I'm a big PBS Kids fan. I think that when it comes to quality children's programming, PBS Kids really gets it. Kids love their shows because they have fun characters and entertaining storylines, but they're really educational and as a parent, I really feel good about letting my kids watch their shows.Case...

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Sid the Science Kid review and giveaway

While I was at BlogHer last week, I left Alfie working at home with the kids. Given that he had to do a full days' work at home, meetings and all, I really tried to plan ahead and fill their day with activities that didn't require much Daddy intervention. Surprise, surprise, I told the kids they could watch up to two hours of tv a day. Fortunately,...

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Family Constitution Review and Giveaway

Are the kids getting out of control? Do you feel like you're struggling with the demands of parenting, work and personal life? Do you wish everyone in the family would Just. Get. Along? Maybe you need a Family Constitution!In his book, "Your Family Constitution", author Scott Gale introduces a great parenting tool to open up family communication and...

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You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube!

This summer, The Pea got to attend two summer camps -- a math camp and an engineering camp -- and she's finished both of them already, so she spends her mornings with me while 3Po and Jammy are at summer school. To pass the time, we run errands or go for walks; when we're at home The Pea reads or plays with her dolls. I also ask her to complete some...

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Rolling off to BlogHer with the [IN]Place Rolling Case File

I'm all set to go to BlogHer! Yesterday I received a nice surprise from Office Max: a Rolling Case File from their Peter Walsh [IN]Place line! They sent it to me so I could use it for an upcoming Office Max event that I'll be attending, so I could try it out and let everyone know what I think of it. I didn't think it would arrive in time for this...

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Spreading the Leapfrog Love

It is more blessed to give than to receive.... Last week The Pea and I went around distributing the Leapfrog reading kits I received from their Ambassadors of Summer Reading Program. I doubt that what I did puts me on the fast track to heaven, but it sure felt pretty darn good. Kinda like Oprah, but with Tags instead of cars. First up, we visited a...

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Super WHYDVD giveaway

There has been a renewed interest in the PBS Kids show Super WHY in our household ever since I came home from a PBS Kids momblogger presentation with a week's worth of fun activities featuring the Super WHY characters. Super WHY has always been a permanent fixture on my iPod, entertaining my kids on long car trips, plane trips or waits at the airport,...

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Great Giveaways from Litzky PR and TimetoPlayMag.com

In the past year, one of the PR firms I've worked the most with is Litzky PR, a PR firm based outside of New York City. Thanks to Litzky's awesome team of PR reps, I've been able to review such wonderful brands like Play-Doh, Hasbro, Playskool, and more. Another great company I've worked with is TimetoPlayMag.com, whose toy experts often appear on shows such as Regis and Kelly, The Today Show, and Letterman.Litzky PR and TimetoPlayMag.com are two companies that really get bloggers, and the amazing...

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Wii Can Be Fit with #KidsWeigh -- Learn and Win

Maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle is difficult for many parents. Helping their kids do the same can be nearly impossible, but programs such as Dr. Weigh and fun fitness tools like the Wii Fit certainly help!To Enter:To enter to win the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest, check out client testimonials and fabulous Dr. Weigh success stories then fill out this secure contest form telling us which story was your favoriteForm: http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontestOne grand prize winner will receive...

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Share your Conference Call Blooper and Win an iPhone 3G

Have you ever said the wrong thing to a client? Have you ever been caught not paying attention on the line? Have your kids screamed something crazy during a call...If so - Packetel wants to hear about it!If not - try out Packetel's Web Conferencing services FREE for 30-days and tell us about your experience!Packetel Turbo Meeting makes web conferencing simple and easy to do. Here are just a few of their web conferencing features:- Share screens/desktops with multiple participants- Assign and acknowledge...

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Win a Laptop from CookiesKids.com

Is your current computer stalling and giving you blue screen nightmares? Would you love to be able to have one that the kids could use (alas, staying off of yours)?CookiesKids.com feels your pain and has come to your rescue! Sign up to recieve the Cookies Kids Newsletter via e-mail and you're automatically entered to win one of 4 brand new laptops!!Simply fill out the form below to be entered into the Laptop Giveaway Sweepstakes. Please be sure to read the Giveaway Sweepstakes "Terms and Conditions"...

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A Date with Ford

I'm really excited to be arriving in Chicago a day early for the BlogHer conference. I've got a date with the Ford Motor Company. All day Thursday I'll be joining a group of bloggers at Ford's What Women Want event, doing fun things like touring the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, getting behind the wheel of the 2010 Ford Fusion (I have high, if misguided,...

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Paper Culture review and giveaway

Win one of 5 $50 gift certificates to Paper Culture! To enter, keep readingTo some people, a card is a card is a card. But many people want their stationery to reflect their personalities, lifestyle and culture. If you're one of those people, good news -- there's a new kid on the cardstock block! Paper Culture is a new premium stationery company focused...

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Going Green at BlogHer

One of the simplest ways a household can reduce their impact on the planet is to switch to environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Simple, right? Except, not really. Three or four years ago, many of the eco-friendly cleaners that started coming out of the woodwork and landing on supermarket shelves didn't actually clean all that well, and they...

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Fruit2O Essentials -- a summer essential

It's hot, hot, hot! And it's not the humid heat that I'm used to from growing up in the Philippines. No, Cali's heat is the dry, desert kind that sears your skin and hurts your head. Alfie is constantly nagging reminding me to keep the kids well hydrated in this weather. I agree 100 percent, and I want to do the right thing -- but it's always a challenge for me to get enough water into them (and myself). I could serve them juice or soda or milk, but I'm sure their waistlines and their teeth would...

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When I grow up, I'm going to have green skin and wear a cowboy hat

Here's a fun quiz on the Leapfrog site that parents can take: just answer a few questions about your child's likes and dislikes, and they'll predict what your child might be when he or she grows up. I answered for 3Po and got a Cowboy. Isn't the photo of the Leapfrog Tag dressed in a cowboy outfit so cute? Of course, according to 3Po, when he grows...

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Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal

It's always nice when I get sent products to review that I already use and love. I recently got a sample of shampoo and conditioner from Pantene Pro-V's Moisture Renewal collection and I have no qualms recommending it. I've always been a fan of Pantene, ever since it was first introduced to the Philippines about 25 years ago (in fact, one summer in...

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Webkinz giveaway

My 3 kids are big Webkinz fans, and hardly a day goes by that ,they don't play with their stuffed Webkinz animals or ask to log on to the Webkinz World site. So when I found this Webkinz giveaway, I was all, sign me up, baby! And because it's such a rare thing to find a Webkinz giveaway, I thought I'd post it here to share with everyone. Frugal...

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Introducing Polarn O. Pyret

My kids hate jeans. None of them like the stiff fabric and heavy zippers; when it comes to clothes, they're all about comfort. But I don't want my kids in baggy tees and sweats all the time, either. I mean, looking like a couch potato is just one step away from being one, and besides, how are those talent scouts going to discover my kids for the next...

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Surfing the Amazon with Little Passports

June has come and gone, and our globetrotting adventures continue... even though we haven't spent a dime or plane tickets or gasoline! Little Passports is a monthly subscription service that follows the adventures of characters Sam and Sofia as they travel to a new country each month. Each month children get their own package in the mail containing...

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Cover this Belly Button Up with a SlimPerfect Dress!

It's now two weeks to BlogHer '09 , and thanks to my love affair with a couple dozen Peanut Butter Cookie Bombs, I don't think my tummy flab is going to get any less flabby for those BlogHer parties . So I'm still hoping I make the cut for the Little Black Dress Model Search contest, the amazing brainchild of Muffintopless , Girlfriendology and Slimperfect -- they're awarding 4 ladies with the perfect Slimperfect Little Black Dress, as well as a $250 Slimperfect giftcard and a makeover for BlogHer...

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My Secret Circle review and giveaway

The Pea is a social butterfly-in-training, a social catterpillar, if you will. She'd go on a playdate every afternoon, and a sleepover every weekend, if I let her. Her interest in hanging out is starting to drift online -- she recently asked me whether she could have a Facebook account. Control freak that I am, I don't think I'm ready for that just...

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Sweets 'n Treats cd review and giveaway

With the name Singer, what else could he be? Tracey Singer is a San Diego-based singer-songwriter, and he's releasing his first children's CD, Sweets 'n Treats, on July 7. The disc, produced by two-time Grammy nominee Buck Howdy, features 13 of Tracey's original songs, largely inspired by his own experiences as a work-at-home dad to four children under...

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The Scrunch Bottle Bib review

Who says aunties can't invent baby products? Jennifer Edison, inventor of the pediatrician-recommended Scrunch Bottle Bib, begs to differ: she came up with the idea when she grew tired of juggling bottles and bibs and towels when feeding her infant niece. Sure, you've put the bib on. Problem is, that pesky formula doesn't drip onto the bib like it's...

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I'm in the Momfluence Summer Guide!

The Momfluence Summer Guide has come out, and I'm so happy to see that my Swimways Submergency review is on their list! Here is the text of the guide for anyone who's looking for some fun products for the summer:photo by G VicianoLooking for some great products to make your summer that much more fun and enjoyable? Looking to pamper yourself while the...

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