Free Potty Training Toolkit and Best Potty Training Tips #KandooKids

August 22, 2014 by Jenni 5 Comments

Hey mommas!! This week is ALL about Potty Training!! Are you in the process right now? We have some great tips for you, plus you will WANT to check out the information about our upcoming #KandooKids Twitter party! We’ll be giving away (4) $25 gift cards to Walmart throughout the Twitter party and the grand prize of a $100 Walmart Gift Card.

Our awesome #MomsCheckIn panel is here this week to give you some awesome tips on potty training. Here they are…

Waiting to potty train when your kiddo is showing signs that they’re ready is key! When they’re waking up dry, that’s a first good indication that they might be ready. Buy some super cute big girl or big boy underwear, maybe even with some of their favorite characters on them. Stickers….kids love stickers! Keep a sticker chart in the bathroom and give them a sticker for each time that they go potty!! One more thing….pretend that their favorite doll or action figure is going potty too. Cheer on the doll/action figure, and give THEM a sticker as well. The kids might be like, “Hey! I want you to cheer for me and give ME a sticker too!”.

– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!

Consistency! Potty training was most challenging for me just because of the effort it required to stick with it. But when you’re really ready and your child is too, get them on the pot every hour or so to at least try to go. Set a timer if that helps you remember. Mine both learned faster when we stayed home for a few days and made it a point to get on the potty to try to go every hour throughout the day. And be patient. They always learn eventually!

– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!

My best potty training tip is strike a balance: don’t press toddlers too hard and once you start training, just keep charging through and it WILL get better! A helpful tip for boys that I received from an experiences mom is to put a square of toilet paper in the toilet: tell them to sink the ship!

– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!

I’ll be honest potty training was a nightmare for us. My son wanted NOTHING to do with it. I remember going to the store saying “This is the last time I’m buying diapers. You will have to go on the potty.” And of course I was back buying more the next week. My son was 3 1/2 before he was potty trained! BUT one morning he woke up and said he wanted to wear big boy underwear to school. I was so excited. We had tried wearing underwear before (both by themselves and over his diaper) but he had never initiated it! He went all day without an accident!!! And then, slept through the night. No accidents. And then all week without an accident! I’m sure he could have done it earlier, but he wasn’t ready. So, my advice is to talk about it (a lot!) and take cues from your child when they are ready!

– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!

Let them watch you go potty. “Ew!” I know, right? But here’s how it worked for us: When my oldest was potty training, we rewarded with M&M’s. One day while we were both in the kids’ bathroom, I said I wanted to go potty. I did, without asking her to leave the room, and I rewarded myself with M&M’s. Wouldn’t you know, she decides SHE wants to go potty, and had success! And M&M’s.

– Ann-Marie launched Chaos Is Bliss in 2010 to share money-saving deals, family-favorite recipes, and family fun. She is the mom of 3 awesome kids! You can find her on Twitter here!

WAIT! We aren’t done!

Next Thursday, August 28th from 1-2 PM Eastern we will be having a Twitter Party talking all about potty training! Make sure you RSVP below to let us know you are coming! It will be lots of fun and Kandoo will be giving away tons of prizes including four $25 Walmart gift cards and one $100 Walmart gift card! Official rules.

YOU MUST RSVP AND BE AT THE PARTY TO WIN!

Make sure to follow all of your hosts so you don’t miss anything! Also, be sure to use #KandooKids during the party!
Moms Check In
Kandoo
Sweet Pennies From Heaven (Jenni)
See Mom Click (Lindsay)
Spaceships And Laser Beams (Stephanie)
It’s a Fabulous Life (Amanda)
Chaos Is Bliss (Ann-Marie)

Kandoo has a full line of products for children to help get clean! Products include flushable wipes, soaps, body wash, shampoo, detangler, bubble bath and hand sanitizer! Easy to use and with fun mascots and scents, Kandoo products are perfect for all kiddos! But not only do they have amazing products, but their website is FULL of great information!

Their most recent addition to their site is a great (and FREE!) downloadable potty training tool kit! It includes a potty training guide with a fun story where kids can learn how Didit becomes a Potty Hero. There is also a bathroom time chart, door hanger and certificate. It’s full of great tips and information for parents too! You can download it for free here!

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Thursday, August 28 from 1-2 PM (Eastern) for the #KandooKids Twitter Party! See you there!

This post is sponsored by Kandoo. All thoughts are mine and participating bloggers.

“My Farm Friends” Personalized Children’s Books and Accessories from I See Me!

August 19, 2014 by Jenni Leave a Comment

Introducing “My Farm Friends” from I See Me!
Personalized Children’s Books and Accessories

We were introduced to the personalized books from I See Me! back a year or so ago and we instantly fell in love with them. I remember when I was pregnant, hoping and praying that the little man would love books and reading. Sure enough, he does. Since we did our earlier I See Me! personalized book review, they’ve grown with new books and accessories!

The new “My Farm Friends” theme is beyond stinking adorable!! I love all the accessories too that you can get alongside the board book. A personalized puzzle and coloring book, stickers, lunchbox….all just wayyyyy too cute! The kids will delight in learning about all the different animals that live on the farm and discovering the sounds each makes! They’ll also love seeing their photo and name incorporated into the illustrations!

If you’re looking for a personalized gift for a baby shower, birthday, Christmas, or any other occasion, you should stop by I See Me! and see what they’ve got. There are many different themes and occasions to see besides the “My Farm Friends”. You can purchase gift certificates for expecting mommas and sign up for their email newsletter for all the latest and greatest info. I’m always getting really awesome coupon codes in my email from them! One other thing I love is that you can get birthday reminders for all those kiddos in the family!

Their products are just such a fun and innovative way to explore and learn. Personalized items have changed over the years. I See Me! takes it over the top by adding photos and the kids’ names throughout the book. I know you’ll love them just as much as we do. Do you have any occasions coming up that I See Me! gifts would be perfect for?

Back to School Tips from Rockstar Moms! #MomsCheckIn

August 15, 2014 by Jenni 5 Comments

Back to school time is here. Everywhere you turn it seems to be binders, pencils and backpacks. We want to know, what is your best tip for an organized school year. Do you have a super way to make those crazy mornings go off without a hitch? Or maybe you’ve mastered the art of sifting through and organizing all of those papers that come home. Whatever your expertise – we want to know!

Here are some of our top back to school tips from the
Moms in our #MomsCheckIn panel!

Since Sam is just going into kindergarten, I’m a novice at this back-to-school regimen so all I can tell you is what I’ve thought about. In the last couple of weeks we’ve been inching toward what his new schedule will be. That means Sam’s getting to bed a little earlier so he’s ready to get up earlier, too. The other thing I plan to do is make sure lunch is packed and clothes are chosen at the end of each day instead of having to hustle in the mornings.

– Stephanie

Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Facebook here!

Gosh is it time to go back to school already? Can’t we just start summer over? We are not morning people. Ok, I am not a morning person. On the weekends, I make extra breakfast and we freeze the leftovers. Pancakes are perfect for popping into the toaster! After our Saturday grocery trip we separate the snacks into individual serving size baggies. We also make a LOT of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to put in the freezer. Come on Monday when we need to make Josh’s lunch we just have to grab a sandwich from the freezer and a few prepped snacks and we are good to go! It only takes about 30 seconds and we are off!

– Amanda

Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Facebook here!

“My top tip is to get done what you can the night before to prepare for the next day. The morning rush is no fun when you’re trying to hustle kids out the door. So we’ll lay out clothes, make sure backpacks are packed, and decide what we’re packing for lunch before we go to bed. My other big tip? Get labels with your kids’ names on everything. Losing a lunch bag or backpack can be a painful (and expensive) loss. I speak from experience!”

– Lindsay

Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Facebook here!

The first thing to get us back into the swing of things is to get back in our routine of going to bed early. Just so I’m not running ragged in the mornings, I always lay his clothes out and make sure his backpack is ready to go too. Bath-time the night before also, that always saves a ton of time!

– Jenni

Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Facebook here!

So now it’s your turn! Tell us! What is your best tip for an organized school year?

Make sure to follow all of the moms on social media and Moms Check In on Twitter! We will be tweeting your responses all week!

Flip Flops – DIY Fabric Flip Flops

July 18, 2014 by Racquel 4 Comments

Flip Flops are one of my favorite things about summer! I passed this on to my daughter which is good and bad. Because she loves them so much, we seem to be always picking up more flip flops on sale which means flip flops everywhere! The other thing it means is that we sometimes are getting flip flops that aren’t great quality and fall apart. The inexpensive foam flip flops are great because the come in so many colors. The problem is that the straps often pull out and then they are no good.

Well, we came up with a fun way to upcycle those into new flip flops! In fact, sometimes we just cut the straps off of new flip flops to make these fun fabric straps because they are so fun!

Flip Flops – DIY Fabric Flip Flops

Supplies:

12 scraps of fabric 1″-2″ wide and 12″ long
flip flops with straps removed
scissors

Instructions:

Hold 6 scraps of fabric together and twist one end tightly. Insert the twisted end into the hole where you removed the toe strap of the flip flop. Turn the flip flop over to the back side and separate the fabric into 2 sections. Tie a firm know to hold the fabric in place.

Turn the flip flop back over and begin braiding each set of 3 strips together to create 2 straps.

When you’ve reached the end of the strips, insert the braided strap into the strap hole. Make sure the braided fabric is pulled to the right length for the strap. Knot the fabric on the back side as you did with the toe strap.

Your flip flops are ready to wear!

The great thing about these flip flops is that you can make so many variations! These are inexpensive, even found at the dollar store. With so many adorable fabrics available you could make a pair for every summer outfit! You can also get creative and use other techniques for the straps. Think of all the knots you might use for making friendship bracelets and turn those into flip flop straps!

Have you ever made your own flip flops?

DESPICABLE ME – DIY Tic Tac Toe

July 3, 2014 by Racquel 49 Comments

Who doesn’t love the DESPICABLE ME movies?!? I think grown ups and kids alike will agree that minions are just about the most adorable little creatures around. This DESPICABLE ME craft is not only fun to make but it will give endless hours of fun for the family during game nights, on rainy days, in the backyard, or even on road trips!

DESPICABLE ME – DIY Tic Tac Toe

Supplies:

8 rocks that are fairly smooth in round or oval shapes
craft paint in blue, yellow, white, black, and purple
silver paint pen
rectangular or square framed chalkboard
chalk
several small paint brushes

Instructions: There really isn’t much to making this craft besides painting the rocks. This is also the fun part! I love painting rocks and my kiddos really enjoyed getting in on the minion making! You’re going to split the rocks into 2 groups – purple minions and yellow so the opponents pieces are easy to tell apart.

Begin by painting 4 rocks yellow and 4 purple. You’ll want to cover the entire face of each rock with 2 coats of paint, allowing the paint to dry between coats. Once the yellow and purple paint has dried, use black paint to add the goggle bands to both colors of minions. Also use the black paint to give the purple minions “pants”.

While the black paint dries, use the blue paint to add the “pants” to the yellow minions. After the black paint is completely dry, add a small white circle to the black goggle band for the eyes of the minions. Give some minions 1 eye and some 2. When the white paint is totally dry, use a small amount of black paint to give the eyes a pupils and to add a mouth for each minion. To finish up the minions, use a silver paint pen to outline the white circle eyes to complete the look of the goggles. Use a piece of chalk to draw the tic tac toe lines onto the framed chalkboard and your DESPICABLE ME – DIY Tic Tac Toe game is ready to use!

Check out this great DESPICABLE ME treat idea!

4th of July Crafts – Button Art American Flag

June 25, 2014 by Racquel 39 Comments

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate and I LOVE making 4th of July Crafts for decorating with! I also love buttons and have a lot of fun coming up with ideas to use my many buttons, whether fancy buttons or just plain old shirt buttons. This Button Art American Flag is created with plain blue, white, and red shirt buttons and I think it turned out really fun!

4th of July Crafts – Button Art American Flag

Supplies:

8″ x 10″ white canvas
shirt buttons in red (about 100), white (about 100), and blue (about 50)
craft glue
picture frame (I used a frame for an 8″ x 10″ photo from the Dollar Store and removed the glass)

Instructions:

While I was pretty particular about making my flag and making sure I had 50 white spaces in my blue buttons for each star and the correct number of red and white stripes, you can certainly get creative and let this a fun easy flag.

Begin by sorting your buttons and laying them out on the canvas to plan exactly how you want to have them displayed.

Once you’ve sorted the buttons and decided on the layout, spread a thin layer of glue and begin placing your buttons. I worked from the top left, adding the blue buttons first. Spread the glue in small amounts so you can easily attach the buttons before the glue begins to dry.

After you have placed all of the blue buttons, add a strip of glue and begin attaching the red and white buttons in alternating rows. I used buttons that were all the same size and color but you could do varying shades and sizes of red or white to give added texture.

Allow the craft glue to dry completely. It should dry clear leaving you only able to see the buttons and canvas.

Once the glue is completely dry, insert the canvas into a photo frame for display. Not only is a great 4th of July Crafts project but you can use this for patriotic decor year around! What kinds of 4th of July Crafts do you make?

Cat in the Hat Kabobs with Cherry Tomatoes and Cheese – It’s Dr. Seuss Week

February 25, 2014 by Jenni 30 Comments

Cat in the Hat Kabobs

Little man’s school is celebrating Dr. Seuss week this week at school. I thought it would be fun to make a few different Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat snacks to celebrate at home too. We already made these Cat in the Hat Strawberry and Marshmallow Kabobs AND these yummy Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Waffles!

It’s all Dr. Seuss up in here!

These kabobs are so easy and they’re also a super healthy snack! I wanted to share how we made them in case you’re looking for an easy way to celebrate Dr. Seuss at home (or school) too.

What you’ll need for the Cat in the Hat Kabobs:

Skewers
Grape Tomatoes
Mozzarella Cheese Cubes (or sliced sticks)
Ranch Dressing (for dipping)
*Another fun adult option would be pesto drizzled onto the kabobs vs. dipping in ranch! We love pesto too!

All you do is layer the tomatoes and cheese cubes onto the skewer so that it resembles the Cat in the Hat’s hat! Told you it was super simple.

What are some fun ways you’re celebrating Dr. Seuss Week? Eli gets to go to school in his favorite pajamas one day this week. I’m not so sure how I feel about that, but we’re going with it…LOL!!

For more fun healthy recipe/snack ideas…check out these recipes!

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Kabobs with Strawberries and Marshmallows

February 24, 2014 by Jenni 7 Comments

Dr. Seuss Week is being celebrated at my son’s school this week. How sweet! I’m not sure how I feel about him going to school in pajamas though. I feel a little weird about that. Butttt….the school thinks it’s a fun idea so we’ll just go with it. We made these yummy Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Waffles the other morning. They were such a hit, so I think I’ll serve them again the morning he heads to school in his fave PJ’s. 🙂

Because I’m just a cool mom {HA!} I made these fun Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat kababs with strawberries and marshmallows. There’s nothing glorified about these, other than the fact that they’re de-lish dipped in chocolate pudding. Ohhh yeah! Love me some chocolate pudding with strawberries. It’s just a fun and easy thing to throw together…and I strive for quick and easy!

Since little man loves him some chocolate pudding too, I thought it’d be fun to make these. They’re so super easy…obviously. But still, I thought I’d post about it here in case you’re looking for an easy peasy way to celebrate Dr. Seuss Week too.

You’ll Need:

Skewers
Strawberries (chopped in bite size pieces)
Mini Marshmallows
Chocolate Pudding for dipping

Then, all you do is layer the berries and marshmallows onto the skewer. I started with a marshmallow and layered 3 of each on…ending with a strawberry. That’s how the Cat in the Hat hat looks…so that’s what we did. You can layer more on though, if you’d like. Heck, fill up the whole kabob!!

Dip in chocolate pudding for extra yumminess!

Make sure to check back tomorrow! I’ve got another fun Dr. Seuss Kabob idea coming up!! Don’t forget to check out our Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Breakfast Waffles! Those are super duper yummy too, and SO easy to put together!

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Breakfast Waffles

February 21, 2014 by Jenni 35 Comments

Dr. Seuss week is being celebrated at little man’s school next week. I love that! Makes me think of all of Dr. Seuss books I read when I was itty bitty, and now he gets to enjoy all things Seuss too! He’ll love getting to wear his favorite Dr. Seuss pajamas to school one day next week. That’s one of the little things they get to do.

I thought these waffles would be FUN for him to have the morning he heads to school in his PJ’s. Something simple. Something cute and fun. Something that resembles the Cat in the Hat’s actual HAT!

We’re calling these the Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Breakfast Waffles. You can find the handy dandy printable recipe down below if you’d like to print it out and stick back in your recipe box.

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Breakfast Waffles

You’ll need:

Frozen Waffles (unless you want to make scratch waffles)
Redi-Whip
Strawberries
*Syrup

We didn’t use any syrup on ours. The Redi-Whip started melting after I put it on and we let that be our “syrup”. However, maple syrup would be good but warm strawberry syrup {YUM} would be even better!!!

Directions:

Just fix your waffles according to the package directions. Allow to cool for just a few minutes so the Redi-Whip doesn’t melt too fast.
Layer Redi-Whip on top of the waffles.
Add halved strawberries all around the edge of the Redi-Whip.
Add another layer of Redi-Whip.
Add another layer of strawberries.
Add one more layer of Redi-Whip in the center….sort of piled into a peak.
Then top with a strawberry.

Enjoy!!!

4.8 from 6 reviews

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Breakfast Waffles

Author: Jenni

Ingredients

Frozen Waffles (unless you want to make scratch waffles)
Redi-Whip
Strawberries
Syrup (optional)

Instructions

Prepare waffles according to the package directions.
Let the waffles cool for just a second so Redi-Whip doesn't melt too fast.
Layer Redi-Whip on top of the waffles.
Add halved strawberries all around the edge of the Redi-Whip.
Add another layer of Redi-Whip.
Add another layer of strawberries.
Add one more layer of Redi-Whip in the center....sort of piled into a peak.
Top with a strawberry.

Told you. Simple and easy. And ohhh so yummy! The kids will love these because it resembles the Cat in the Hat! Did you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book growing up? Which one?? Is that also your child’s favorite??!! Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear!

Valentines Day Ideas – Crafts and Recipes Using Heart Shaped Cookie Cutters and Molds

January 17, 2014 by Jenni 6 Comments

I love February because of all the awesome Valentines Day Ideas, crafts and recipes! It’s a fun holiday. I get something ridiculous from my husband every year though…like a dust buster. Yeah. He’s the least romantic man in the universe when it comes to gift giving. He does other romantic things though, on occasion so it makes up for those occasional “dust buster” times.

Super Simple Valentines Day Ideas, Crafts and Recipes

Valentine’s Day is definitely a fun holiday to cook and craft with the kiddos. Especially since they do classroom exchanges. Our Valentine’s Day Trail Mix was a HIT last year! We can’t wait to make it again this year! Here’s a picture of some of the stuff needed to make it. It’s so super duper easy. No cookie cutters needed for this recipe, just an FYI. Because, you know, this post IS supposed to be all about using cookie cutters.

Kids LOVE to craft and of course they’re always under foot in the kitchen, so I wanted to share these fun Valentines Day ideas that they can help with. Most people already have heart shaped cookie cutters or molds, so I wanted to share crafts and recipes that uses them. If you DON’T have any heart shaped cookie cutters or molds, you can find them just about anywhere…even on Amazon! Here are some cool ones…

Check out all these Heart Shaped Cookie Cutters

…and all these Heart Shaped Candy Molds

Now, here’s a roundup below broken up into recipes and crafts. All of these were created by fantastic friends of mine and a few others I found on the web. Little man and I have a date set to make each of these things. Can’t wait!

Valentine’s Day Recipes

Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Pancakes by Time 2 Save Workshops

White Chocolate Dipped Oreos by Making of a Mom

2 Ingredient Strawberry Fudge by Color Me Crystal

Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Ice Cream Sandwiches by Two Kids and a Coupon

Easiest Ever Valentine’s Day Chocolate Chip Cookies by Pandora’s Deals

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day Crayons by Making of a Mom

Cookie Cutter Heart Gift Idea by Spoonful

Valentine Yarn Ornaments by Some the Wiser

Heart Shaped Pin Cushions by Country Living

If that isn’t enough to keep you busy, you can find some other fun Valentines Day ideas, crafts and recipes on my Valentine’s Day Pinterest Board below!

Follow Sweet Pennies from Heaven’s board Valentine’s Day on Pinterest.

Finding Fun and Sturdy Glasses for Kids

December 22, 2013 by Jenni Leave a Comment

If your child has recently failed an eye exam and been told that he needs to wear glasses, you may think it is impossible to find fun, trendy glasses while ensuring they can survive a day at school (e.g., think monkey bars, tag, dodge ball, etc.)! Glasses for young children may seem like a losing proposition altogether; however, there are some eyeglasses that are built specifically to handle the daily physical routine of youngsters. Here are three tips for finding fun, yet sturdy, glasses for kids.

1. Consider Face Shape

One of the easiest ways to ensure you and your child select glasses that will flatter his face is by focusing on the frame style. Before reaching for just any glasses to try on, take note of the shape of your child’s face. Most people generally fall into one of the following four face shape categories:

Oval – this facial shape is generally designated by a chin that is slightly narrower than the forehead with otherwise balanced features.
Round – if you have a round face, the width and length are mostly equal which creates a soft, circular shape.
Square – strong, distinct angles around the forehead, cheeks and jawline characterize a square face shape.
Heart – the heart-shaped face is designated by a wider forehead with narrower cheekbones and jawline.

Once you have determined your child’s general face shape, you can begin to select the best style of frames for his face. If your child has a round face, it is best to select square frames to help balance the roundness while a square-faced child benefits from round frames to help tone down the prominent angles of his face. An oval-shaped face is generally pretty versatile when it comes to selecting frames; however, it is likely best to avoid oval frames in order to avoid making your face look longer. Heart-shaped faces may benefit from frames that are wider at the bottom to help counterbalance a narrow chin.

2. Look at Different Types of Frames

Many parents assume they should buy their child plastic frames because they are generally less expensive and offer more options for color and style. If you can get a good fit with plastic frames then by all means go for it; however, be sure to consider frames made from metal as well since they are easy to adjust in order to get the perfect fit. It is important that your child’s glasses fit properly in order to avoid them slipping off easily while playing.

3. Ask About the Lens Material

Once the frames have been selected, be sure to ask about the lens material as well. A few features you will want to have included are an anti-scratch coating and ultraviolet protection coating. You may want to also consider having an anti-reflective or anti-glare coating added to the lenses as well in order to minimize the reflection on the lenses.

Once you have considered the above mentioned features, be sure to let your child have the final say on which glasses he will wear. If he feels like he is allowed to have a voice in the decision, he will definitely be more likely to wear them.

About the author:

Article Written by Jen Blair of The Sprightly Shopper. Follow her on Twitter @sprightlyshop.

Disney Classics Box Set Now Available to Pre-Order #DisneyClassicsBox

October 31, 2013 by Jenni Leave a Comment

Do many of your childhood memories include Disney? Mine sure do! From as early as I can remember til now with my own son. Even now as I type, I hear Toy Story’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” playing from my son’s bedroom. I am super duper excited because the Disney Classics Box Set is set to be released on Nov. 12th, 2013 BUT you can actually pre-order it now here on Amazon.com. If you’re visiting a Disney park, you’ll find them for sale there too! You can enjoy the older classics as well as the new ones. It’s a great way to make memories with your own kids!

Memories and music are strongly tied to one another, wouldn’t you agree? There are so many songs that I hear and am instantly reminded of a certain time in my life. Especially Disney songs!! When I hear “The Bare Necessities” or “A Spoonful of Sugar” — I’m instantly transformed back into that 5 year old girl sitting in front of an old and HUGE floor model TV, rewinding the VCR tapes to watch them again and again. Ahhh – those were the good days!

The official release date for the Disney Classics Box Set is November 12th, 2013. On that day you’ll be able to purchase the set anywhere music is sold but don’t forget that you can PRE-ORDER it now on Amazon right now!! The set includes 4 discs of 94 original recordings. Check them out below:

Disney Modern Classics

1. Under the Sea – The Little Mermaid
2. Be Our Guest – Beauty and The Beast
3. Seize the Day – Newsies
4. A Whole New World – Aladdin
5. What’s This? – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
6. Circle of Life – The Lion King
7. Colors of the Wind – Pocohontas
8. You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Toy Story
9. Out There – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
10. I Won’t Say (I’m in Love) – Hercules
11. Reflection – Mulan
12. The Time of Your Life – A Bug’s Life
13. Strangers Like Me – Tarzan (Phil Collins)
14. When She Loved Me – Toy Story 2
15. Whopp-de-Dooper Bounce – The Tigger Movie
16. If I Didn’t Have You – Monsters, Inc.
17. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride – Lilo & Stitch
18. Look Through My Eye – Brother Bear
19. One Little Slip – Chicken Little
20. Happy Working Song – Enchanted
21. Dig a Little Deeper – The Princess and The Frog
22. I See the Light – Tangled (Mandy Moore)
23. We Belong Together – Toy Story 3

Disney Theme Park Classics

1. The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
2. Swisskapolka – Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse
3. Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me) – Pirates of the Caribbean
4. Splash Mountain Medley – Splash Mountain
5. The Bear Serenade – Country Bear Jamboree
6. Grim Grinning Ghost – Haunted Mansion
7. It’s a Small World – it’s a small world
8. There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow – Carousel of Progress
9. The Great Outdoors – Country Bear Vacation Hoedown
10. Space Mountain – Space Mountain
11. Soarin’ – Soarin’ Over California
12. It’s Tough to Be a Bug – It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
13. California Screamin’ – California Screamin’
14. The Best Time of Your Life – Carousel of Progress
15. Space Mountain – Space Mountain (2005)
16. Universe of Energy – Universe of Energy
17. Kitchen Kabaret Medley – Food Rocks
18. One Little Spark – Journey Into Imagination
19. Canada (You’re a Lifetime Journey) – O Canada!
20. Golden Dream – The American Adventure
21. Finale – Fantasmic!

Disney Timeless Classics

1. Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf – Three Little Pigs
2. Whistle While You Work – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
3. When You Wish Upon a Star – Pinocchio
4. When I See an Elephant Fly – Dumbo
5. Little April Shower – Bambi
6. The Three Caballeros – The Three Caballeros
7. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah – Song of the South
8. Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly) – So Dear to My Heart
9. A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes – Cinderella
10. All in the Golden Afternoon – Alice in Wonderland
11. You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! – Peter Pan
12. What a Dog/He’s a Tramp – Lady and The Tramp
13. Once Upon a Dream – Sleeping Beauty
14. Cruella De Vil – 101 Dalmatians
15. Let’s Get Together – The Parent Trap
16. The Ugly Bug Ball – Summer Magic
17. A Spoonful of Sugar – Mary Poppins
18. The Monkey’s Uncle – The Monkey’s Uncle
19. Fortuosity – The Happiest Millionaire
20. The Bare Necessities – The Jungle Book
21. Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat – The Aristocats
22. Whistle Stop – Robin Hood
23. Someone’s Waiting for You – The Rescuers
24. It’s Not Easy – Pete’s Dragon
25. Best of Friends – The Fox and The Hound

Disney Television Classics

1. Mickey Mouse March – The Mickey Mouse Club
2. The Ballad of Davy Crockett – Davy Crockett – King of the Wild Frontier
3. The Triple R Song (Yippi-A, Yippi-I, Yippi-O) – The Adventures of Spin
and Marty
4. Theme of Zorro – Zorro
5. Scarecrow – The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
6. Winnie the Pooh – Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree
7. Minnie’s Yoo Hoo – The Mouse Factory
8. Who, What, Why, Where, When and How Day – The New Mickey Mouse
Club
9. Gummi Bears Theme – The Adventures of the Gummi Bears
10. Duck Tales Theme – Duck Tales
11. Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers Theme Song – Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue
Rangers
12. Darkwing Duck Theme – Darkwing Duck
13. Theme to Lizzie McGuire (Extended Supa Mix) – Lizzie McGuire
14. Rockin’ at the House of Mouse (Extended Version) – House of Mouse
15. The Naked Mole Rap – Kim Possible
16. Cheetah Sisters – The Cheetah Girls
17. Aloha, E Komo Mai – Lilo & Stitch: The Series
18. Hot Dog! – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19. Get’cha Head in the Game – High School Musical
20. Nobody’s Perfect – Hannah Montana 2
21. Gitchee Gitchee Goo – Phineas and Ferb
22. This Is Me – Camp Rock
23. What Time Is It – High School Musical 2
24. Everything Is Not as It Seems – Wizards of Waverly Place
25. Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater – The Mickey Mouse Club

Disclosure: I am participating in a blog post campaign from One2One Network and Walt Disney Records. All opinions are my own.

Over 750 FREE Pumpkin Carving Stencils – Walking Dead, Disney, Justin Beiber and tons More!

October 21, 2013 by Jenni 3 Comments

Over 750 Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils

Have you started carving your pumpkins yet for Halloween? We’re on Fall break this week so we’re looking for some fun ideas. Heading to the pumpkin patch, grabbing a few pumpkins, a pumpkin carving kit, and we’re ready for some carving fun!! I found a slew of awesome pumpkin carving stencils, all for FREE and I wanted to share them with you.

Some of these are really easy for kids to do on their own, while others require a steady hand and an eye for detail. There are loads and loads of ideas here. Make sure to check them all out and see what you can come up with! Snap a photo and share them with us on our Facebook Wall…we’d love to see your super cute pumpkins!!

We decided, okay…little man decided – that he wanted a Sheriff Woody Pumpkin from Toy Story. So that’s what he got. We spent about 2 hours making this one below and it turned out awesome!! We turned the light off and took the photo – so it’s a bit fuzzy. Needless to say, little man loves it! Here’s the Toy Story Woody pumpkin carving stencil. I wanted to leave a link for that one specifically so you wouldn’t have to look for it below.

List of places to grab awesome and FREE pumpkin carving stencils:

Pop Culture Pumpkin Stencils – Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, Kate Middleton, Robert Pattinson, and more.

27 Cute Pumpkin Stencils – Easy for kids.

20 Nick Jr. Pumpkin Stencils

21 Disney Pumpkin Stencils

30 Pumpkin Stencils from Hershey’s – Organized by difficulty.

46 Intricate Pumpkin Stencils – These are for the more advanced carver.

19 Traditional Stencils

30 Geeky Pumpkin Stencils – Star Wars, Dr. Who, Star Trek, Angry Birds, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Mario, Gangnam Style, and more!

47 More Geek-Inspired Stencils – Marvel Comics, Dr. Who, Ghostbusters, Walking Dead, Hunger Games, True Blood, Harry Potter, Twilight, and more!

20 Random Stencils – From Tinkerbell, to Colonel Sanders, to Gary Coleman.

10 Halloween Stencils

13 Face Stencils – AFrom clowns to traditional Jack’O’Lanterns.

100 Pop Culture Stencils – Ranging from Bettie Page, to the Beatles, and from the Mona Lisa to Rocket from Little Einsteins.

59 Pumpkin Stencils – They range from traditional Halloween designs, to Mario, Thomas the Train, and Smurfs.

8 Simple Stencils – Probably be more appealing to beginning carvers or small children.

6 Random Stencils – They have tons of stencils to purchase, but they always have a random selection of free ones as well.

56 Extremely Detailed Stencils – They range from Angry Birds, to fantasy creatures like dragons and unicorns.

25 Stencils – They range from pretty and frilly to spooky and scary.

16 Halloween-Themed Stencils – There are some for every skill level here.

12 Themed Stencils – Patriotic, awareness ribbons, and some traditional halloween themes.

11 Star Wars Stencils

100 ‘Un-Halloween’ Pumpkin Stencils – Animals, celebrities, fantasy, patriotic, Christian, and more.

8 Halloween Stencils – From faces, to whole-pumpkin decorations.

28 Cat Stencils

8 Military Themed Stencils

14 Pop Culture Stencils – Assassin’s Creed, Facebook, Glee, Winnie the Pooh, and more.

12 Midwestern Themed Stencils – Corn, barns, wheat, etc.

Quick and Healthy Snacks on the Go – Kid Approved

October 2, 2013 by Jenni 1 Comment

Quick and Healthy Snacks on the Go – Kid Approved

Quick and healthy snacks on the go can make your lives so much easier when you have a busy schedule! It keeps you from having to stop at a fast food window, plus you can ensure that your kids are getting healthy snacks! I find that it’s easier to write out and plan a week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and include snacks too! That way I don’t have to guess and stand there at the cabinet or fridge trying to decide what to serve.

eMeals makes this process super duper easy for me. Have you heard of them? You must check them out…they’re my #1 source for saving money on my grocery bill (besides coupons of course).

First of all, how does having a weekly meal plan with a coordinating shopping list sent to you sound? Already made, with no work on your part! Who wouldn’t love that?! That is exactly what eMeals does for me, each and every week. They offer many different meal plan options. You can choose from the classic meal plan, paleo, gluten free, vegan and more.

eMeals really focuses on creating different and delicious meal plans using common ingredients. They also plan meals based on items that are often on sale or in season. They know that in season produce is cheaper than out of season produce. You can even choose your own store to shop at, and eMeals will send you your shopping list with prices based on the store you choose. You can opt for Walmart, Kroger, Target, Aldi, Publix, Whole Foods and more!

This service saves me SO much time and money! I always stick to my weekly meal plan and shopping list, and then just buy the occasional snack foods and things that aren’t on the list that we need in addition. Dave Ramsey recommends eMeals to help families who are budgeting and saving money! I can say first hand that it helps us save money each and every week and I wouldn’t know what I’d do without them! Their year’s subscription is just $5 per month!! That works out to roughly just $1.25 a week!!

Here are (5) Kid-Approved Snack Ideas, courtesy of eMeals:

Make your own trail mix by combining raisins, freeze-dried fruits, nuts, sunflower seeds, and whole grain cereal.
Serve apple slices with string cheese and whole grain crackers.
Make half a sandwich with whole grain bread, peanut butter, and banana slices.
Serve hummus with whole wheat pita and baby carrots for dipping.
Build your own yogurt parfaits with low fat yogurt, fresh berries, and whole grain granola.

What sorts of healthy snacks do you give your kids? Preferably healthy snacks that travel well?! Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear your snack ideas!!

Shop Costume Express for the Best Halloween Costumes

September 27, 2013 by Jenni 3 Comments

Shop Costume Express for the Best Halloween Costumes! Offering 15% off right now plus FREE Shipping with a $75 order!

I cannot believe that October is almost here! Fall is my favorite time of the year. Around late September, we start thinking about Halloween costumes. I always like to get a jump on it early, otherwise I worry about shipping deadlines if I wait too long. My little guy is all about Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and then of course…Toy Story 3. He decided that this year he wanted to be Sheriff Woody. No, thankfully, he does NOT have a snake in his boot! 🙂

The last few years, we’ve got our Halloween costumes from Costume Express. We’ve always been very happy and that’s where we’ll continue to shop from. They have great prices (this costume was just $34) and the costumes are always very well made. We got this Sheriff Woody costume in the mail a few days ago and I thought little man was going to come UNGLUED! He couldn’t wait – so we went ahead and let him put it on. I wanted to make sure it would fit anyway.

How stinking cute is HE?! He loves, loves, LOVES his costume. I knew he would. The only thing I can say about this Sheriff Woody costume is that the hat is a bit difficult to keep on his head. It would have been a great addition to have a string that goes under the chin to keep it attached, but all is well. It doesn’t bother him at all.

When shopping at Costume Express, I feel like the measurements are right on. My little guy is small for his age, so I went with the size 4/6. It fits perfectly. But I would double check the measuring guide just to be safe. It may also depend on the individual costume. I highly recommend checking Costume Express out for all of your costume needs. They offer all sorts of deals and free shipping offers. Make sure to check those out!

You can also follow CostumeExpress on their social media links below.

What are your kids going to be for Halloween this year? Leave us a comment below and let us know! We’d love to hear!!

Disclosure: CostumeExpress sent us a costume for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own, and honest as always.

Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted Sneak Peak Trailer #MuppetsMostWanted

August 8, 2013 by Jenni 1 Comment

Have you heard yet??!! Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted will be released in theaters on March 21, 2014!! I cannot wait! As a “thirty-something” girl — I have to say that the Muppets are one of my favorite childhood memories!! We didn’t have cable or dish satellite. We had regular tv {GASP!!!}! Kids today have NO clue what regular TV is…haha!

I am super pumped because a few of my favorite actors are playing great roles! Read on to see what roles Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell are playing!

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon. The sneak peak trailer is below!! Check it out.

Then here are a few more image shots from the film! Be sure to leave a comment letting us know how excited YOU are and if you remember watching the Muppets when you were a kid!!

Like The Muppets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Muppets

Follow The Muppets on Twitter:@MuppetsStudio

Follow Miss Piggy on Twitter: @RealMissPiggy

MUPPETS MOST WANTED opens in theaters on March 21, 2014!

We Spent Father’s Day with Thomas the Tank Engine!!

June 21, 2013 by Jenni 7 Comments

Disclosure: I received free tickets to spend the Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine in exchange for my honest review.

Father’s Day with Thomas the Tank Engine!

This past Sunday we went to visit Thomas the Tank Engine! Yes, Sunday was Father’s Day and my awesome husband was excited at the thought of spending his day with our family doing what little guy wanted to do! We went to the Whitewater Valley Railway Station in Connersville In. and had such a great time! I will say my apologies now for all of the photos in this post! I couldn’t help myself…;)

My niece and her family went with us so we had a car full. It took a couple of hours to get there, but the road trip was totally worth it. The kids were busy playing while I lovingly yelled at my husband to keep his eyes on the road – like – eleven hundred and fifty two times! 😉 I’m the worst when it comes to that. I don’t know how many times I heard him say, “I’ll just stop and let YOU drive!”!

We safely arrived, thanks to my husband’s good driving skills and my GPS. The first thing we heard from the parking lot was the sound of Thomas the Tank Engine coming up the rail and his whistle blowing!!! When Eli saw the real deal Thomas pulling up the track, he just said, “WOW!” and his face was PRICELESS!! I tell you, it was better than Christmas morning!

We stood in line (which wasn’t very long) and had pictures taken with Thomas and we got to see Sir Topham Hatt too! After that, it was time to board Thomas for a fun 25 minute train ride!

My niece, Shelbi, and her beau Justin sat on one side with their kids – Aiden and Conner while we sat on the other side. Aiden and Eli both were excited at seeing the other train cars as we passed by. They both received their Jr. Engineer Certificates too….proud momma’s we are!!

Ahh…blurry pic!! We were moving and I had a hard time getting a good photo!

After the ride was over, we visited the different booths. Eli enjoyed playing in the imagination station booth at the Thomas the Tank Engine Wooden Track tables and the Thomas Stamps station…I know he would have loved to take a few of those stamps home with him! Aiden had a blast on the inflatable jumping station. Along the way, we found this awesome guy selling balloons. By the way…all of the volunteer Staff members were ridiculously awesome and helpful!

Eli called him Mr. Conductor 😉

Loved this guy!!

Baby Conner all tuckered out!

All pooped out, we headed back home after a day of fun. Can’t wait until next year when we can visit Thomas the Tank Engine again!! There are still many stops along the way for 2013 so make sure to check the Go Go Thomas Tour for 2013 and find a location near you + watch a fun video!! You’ll have an unbelievable day of fun!!

A Day Out with Thomas and the Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 Schedule #dayoutwiththomas

June 14, 2013 by Jenni 12 Comments

Day out with Thomas and the Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 Schedule

I’m so excited! This Sunday my family and I will be spending a Day out with Thomas!! Of course Sir Topham Hatt will be there too! We’re visiting the Whitewater Valley Railroad station in Connersville, Indiana! YES…that Sunday is Father’s Day so it’ll be a fun filled day! My little guy has been such a ginormous fan of Thomas since he was itty bitty!

Eli dressed as Thomas…man, that was a LONG time ago!! So stinking cute!

Eli about a year ago in his Thomas PJ’s 🙂

We’re happy that we get to visit the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville and spend the Day out with Thomas. Be sure to check out The Go Go Thomas Tour of 2013! There are many other stops along the way so be sure to check out all of the dates and locations! I’ll be tweeting live from our Thomas the Tank ride and sharing some fun photos so make sure to stay tuned!

Thomas the Tank Engine™ To Visit WHITEWATER VALLEY RAILROAD
June 14- 16 and 21- 23, 2013

CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA – It’s time to make dreams come true! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is pulling into the Whitewater Valley Railroadfor Day Out With Thomas™: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013, presented by HIT Entertainment, a worldwide leader in children’s entertainment. This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series. Children will take a ride along with their favorite engine friend on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities. The tour, now in its 18th year, will make stops in more than 45 US cities and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers in 2013.

WHO: Thomas the Tank Engine – Day out with Thomas

WHAT:

· A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine

· Games and activities featuring a mystery element

· The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway

· A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets.

· Storytelling, video viewing and live entertainment

WHEN: JUNE 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 2013

TIME: 9 am to 4 pm

WHERE: Connersville’s Grand Central Station

455 Market Street, Connersville, Indiana 47331

Tickets for Day Out with Thomas™: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 are on sale now and available by calling Ticketweb toll-free 866-468-7630, or by visiting www.ticketweb.com/thomas.html or www.whitewatervalleyrr.org. Ticket prices are $18 plus tax for ages 2 and up (service charges and fee may apply).

For more information and directions, contact the WVRR at 765-825-2054 or visit www.whitewatervalleyrr.org .

For information on Thomas & Friends™, visit www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt

Follow Thomas & Friends on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends and Twitter @TrueBlueEngine.

Tips to Packing a Healthy Lunch That You and the Kids Will Love

August 21, 2012 by Jenni 2 Comments

How many times have you forgotten about your own lunch when you’re scrambling to pack the kids’ lunch boxes in the morning? Did you know that 73% of moms have eaten their child’s snacks in a pinch. If you’re one of these statistics, then think about stocking up on snacks that the whole family will enjoy. That should alleviate THAT issue!

Dole Real Fruit Bites are a great addition to your family’s cupboard! These combine 3 healthy favorites among kids and adults alike – fruit, yogurt and whole grain oats – into one delicious taste. These are offered in three yummy 90-calorie flavors – apple, pineapple and mango, you and your family will be sure to find a favorite flavor.

Below are some additional lunch-packing tips to make the mornings run smoothly.

Leverage last night’s leftovers. Add instant rice to leftover chicken or transform leftover steak into a hearty chili
Share a smile. Cut sandwiches into different shapes with cookie cutters, or write a note on a napkin
Camouflage healthy snacks. Dole Real Fruit Bites are made from real dried fruit, coated with yogurt and sprinkled with toasted whole grain oats – Kids won’t be trading this snack
Keep it cool. Think outside the thermos, and try freezing a yogurt cup or a juice box
Snack attack. Grab snacks for your desk drawer or purse so you can have a quick bite

Our awesome #MomsCheckIn panel is here this week to give you some awesome tips on potty training. Here they are…

WAIT! We aren’t done!

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Thursday, August 28 from 1-2 PM (Eastern) for the #KandooKids Twitter Party! See you there!

Introducing “My Farm Friends” from I See Me! Personalized Children’s Books and Accessories

Here are some of our top back to school tips from the Moms in our #MomsCheckIn panel!

So now it’s your turn! Tell us! What is your best tip for an organized school year?

Flip Flops – DIY Fabric Flip Flops

DESPICABLE ME – DIY Tic Tac Toe

Check out this great DESPICABLE ME treat idea!

4th of July Crafts – Button Art American Flag

Cat in the Hat Kabobs

It’s all Dr. Seuss up in here!

What you’ll need for the Cat in the Hat Kabobs:

For more fun healthy recipe/snack ideas…check out these recipes!

You’ll Need:

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Breakfast Waffles

You’ll need:

Directions:

Super Simple Valentines Day Ideas, Crafts and Recipes

Valentine’s Day Recipes

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Disney Modern Classics

Disney Theme Park Classics

Disney Timeless Classics

Disney Television Classics

Over 750 Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils

List of places to grab awesome and FREE pumpkin carving stencils:

Quick and Healthy Snacks on the Go – Kid Approved

Shop Costume Express for the Best Halloween Costumes! Offering 15% off right now plus FREE Shipping with a $75 order!

What are your kids going to be for Halloween this year? Leave us a comment below and let us know! We’d love to hear!!

Father’s Day with Thomas the Tank Engine!

Day out with Thomas and the Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 Schedule

Quick Links

Introducing “My Farm Friends” from I See Me!
Personalized Children’s Books and Accessories

Here are some of our top back to school tips from the
Moms in our #MomsCheckIn panel!