His-and-hers Halloween costumes

October is almost here, and you know what that means:  us grownups have an excuse to dress up in costume, all month long!  I'm not just talking about Halloween night, I'm talking about all those Halloween parties.  And if you are taking a date with you to your party, it's a lot of fun if you have coordinating costumes.  I'm not...

Continue reading...

Lice Shield Back to School giveaway

Has your school had its first lice check yet?  Any dreaded pink slips in your kid's backpack with the words LICE on them?  Any parent whose kids has had lice knows that an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure!  Fortunately, Lice Shield is giving away 5 sets of Lice Shield Shampoo & Conditioner, and Lice Shield Conditioning...

Continue reading...

VTech Switch and Go Dinos

Kids love dinosaurs and kids love vehicles -- so why not combine them?  That's the idea behind VTech's new Switch and Go Dinos transforming toys.  Each Switch and Go Dino transforms from a vehicle to a dinosaur in just a few moves.  Each one has an LCD screen with customizable dino eyes and vehicle drivers, and each one...

Continue reading...

Frankenweenie: An Electrifying Book for the iPad

We are all looking forward to the opening of Tim Burton's new movie, "Frankenweenie", so when I heard that Disney Publishing was releasing a free interactive Frankenweenie eBook, I downloaded it to see whether it was just an extended movie trailer or something that could legitimately be called an eBook.   After a not-so-quick read-through,...

Continue reading...

Toyota goes to Eat Real Oakland

Yesterday I attended the Eat Real Oakland festival in Jack London Square.   I was in foodie heaven, sampling all the amazing dishes and wandering through rows and rows of artisanal cheese, chocolate, bread, spices and more.  The place was packed with people enjoying good food -- but it must have been a nightmare for parents navigating...

Continue reading...

Crafty fun with Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape

I love duct tape.  I'm no handyman, so duct tape is my go-to solution for all minor household problems.  Broken storage bin? Fix it with duct tape!  Did my kid's toy golf club snap in two? Duct tape!  Need to prop up the Halloween skeletons against the side of the house? Duct tape!  The Pea and her friends love duct tape...

Continue reading...

Clean Out Your Garage giveaway

Did you know that National Clean Out Your Garage Day is celebrated on September 8?  Even though that date has come and gone, there's still time to clean up your garage before winter hits -- don't wait until the Spring Cleaning urge hits!  We do a big garage clean-out every 1-2 years, regardless of the season.  It's amazing how much...

Continue reading...

Shutterfly Yearbooks giveaway

Another school year has started, and new memories are about to be made!  Thank goodness for that school yearbook!  Sure, those yearbook photos don't always come out the way your child wants them to, but parents cherish those photo memories, flyaway hair and all. If you're on your school's yearbook committee, be sure to check out Shutterfly...

Continue reading...

Mornings with Crest & Oral B Pro-Health

A couple of months ago I reviewed the Crest & Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control Regimen -- and I liked the products so much, I buy them regularly now!  I really like the way they leave my mouth feeling like I've just visited the dentist, all squeaky-clean and minty-fresh. That minty-fresh part is especially important for me in...

Continue reading...

American Girl Place tees on sale!

One of the most inexpensive items you can get at American Girl Place stores is a souvenir tshirt for your girl and doll.  It's a great way to remember that special visit, and get matching girl-and-doll items at the same time!  And now it's even cheaper, because souvenir items are on deep discount at the American Girl online store! You...

Continue reading...

American Express Back to School looks for Mom

When the school year begins, it doesn't just affect kids -- it affects parents and the whole family dynamic.  Parents have to get up early, pack lunches, schedule parent-teacher conferences, do library duty, arrange carpools, avoid (or seek) the PTA.  But all that hassle does have a few benefits, at least for stay-at-home parents and work-at-home...

Continue reading...

Back to School with Lice Shield

A few years ago, my daughter contracted a case of head lice, and getting rid of the little buggers required craftiness and dedication worthy of a Sun Tzu military campaign. You know, the guy who wrote The Art of War.  Yes, it was a war -- combing through The Pea's thick hair and methodically pulling out each and every nit, one by one, boiling...

Continue reading...

American Girl Magazine

The latest issue of American Girl magazine is out, and it's full of lots of crafts, advice and activities to keep girls busy throughout the fall.  We received a copy of the September/October issue (available for sale as a single issue at the American Girl online store, or via subscription), and it looks like a lot of fun!  Here...

Continue reading...