Friday, May 30, 2014

Cozy Wall Art: Tractor Silhouette Wall Decal

*Review Sample Provided


My son's almost three years old and somehow, we never got around to adding any wall art in his bedroom.  Now that he's developing a real personality and preferences it seemed like the perfect time add a wall decal to his room.  This is such a fun, easy, and inexpensive way to incorporate your child's interests into their own personal space.  Cozy Wall Art has so many designs that there's something for everyone!  My little guy is obsessed with all things tractor, so as soon as I saw the Tractor Silhouette Wall Decal I knew it was perfect for him!


We received a dark green Tractor Silhouette Wall Decal ($25) in the size large (22" X 34.5") for this review.  It came rolled up and packaged very nicely in a triangular shaped box.


Along with the decal, we also got step by step directions and a credit card shaped squeegee.  A small bonus decal and some sweet treats were also included.


{BEFORE}

Here is a view of his wall before we put up the wall decal.  I thought this was a good space because it's awfully bare looking up there above his changing table.  I'd be too afraid to put a shelf or even anything framed up there because he's so active.  I know he's end up grabbing at it or pulling something down on himself while up on his changing pad.


{AFTER}

See what a difference the Tractor Silhouette wall decal makes?  I love it & it makes such an impact without spending hours to do!


A wall decal is really perfect because we can fill a large space on the wall, at an affordable price, without adding any bulk that might fall down and hurt our little guy.


We followed the directions Cozy Wall Art sent and began by cleaning the wall and taping the tractor silhouette into place.  Then we used the squeegee to apply the decal to the wall.  This was a fairly large shape with lots of detail so my husband had to take his time with this step.


The part of the backing that overlapped seemed to have a little harder time sticking so we took off the top layer and kept rubbing with the squeegee and then did the same with the bottom portion.


My son was absolutely thrilled by how it turned out.  He points to it all the time and says, "My tractor, my tractor!"  He has a speech delay so that he's excited enough to spontaneously talk about it all the time, gives me little tingles of happiness to see how much he loves it.


Cozy Wall Art is a great resource for kid's and nursery wall decor, but also has a wide range of designs from  custom name decals to quotes, modern or whimsical styles, and even classroom appropriate looks. I think this Scattered Blossoms Triptych Wall Decal is especially stunning.  Readers, have you ever tried using a wall sticker to decorate your home?


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Thursday, May 29, 2014

May 2014 Birchbox Review

*Includes Referral Links


There was a delay shipping this month and my box didn't arrive until the 22nd.  I got an email saying it went out on the 12th but it took took ten days to make it to me.  I hate waiting, but one the upside this month's box was essentially more than free!

Birchbox gave me 100 points to make up for the delay and 100 points = $10, the price of a  monthly box.  There were five samples in my May box and since I reviewed each one I also got a total of 50 more points or $5 to spend in the Birchbox store.  That's 15 bucks I can spend at Birchbox, so while it was hard waiting while seeing what everyone else got, that's a pretty sweet bonus!

Once it finally got here, I took a quick picture for Instagram, but then pretty much separated everything right away so I don't have nice photos of each sample this time.  I'll just go from left to right as I describe each one.

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil (full size $65): My mom gave me a sample of another serum awhile ago and I really liked how it made my skin feel.  The difference was pretty noticeable and I'm almost out of it.  So this was a great time to get a new sample to try out.  It's supposed to help with cellular turnover while you sleep and while the vial it comes is similar to a fragrance sample size I know from past samples this will actually last several uses.

I stopped using the other sample, waited a few days and then began using this Caudalie product.  I'm happy with how it's softens my skin and makes it feel much nicer than otherwise.  I think this type of product is definitely going to have to be added to my bedtime routine.

SmartyPants All-in-One Gummy Vitamins for Adults (full size $29.99): I already take a couple of vitamins recommended by my endocrinologist at specific amounts so I'm not likely to switch things up.  Plus there are 8g of sugars per serving, I'm diabetic, so these are out for me anyway.  They are designed to streamline your daily supplements so maybe that's why they are so expensive for a monthly supply.  I do think that they are a good alternative if you aren't going to take vitamins any other way.  They are just like eating candy.

Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer (full size $36): This is the first Smashbox product I've ever tried and I'm pretty impressed.  I don't always bother with a primer other than under eye shadow but I have been wanting to add one for the warmer weather when make up is more likely to slide right off my face.  This is oil free and I thought it worked great the two times I've used it so far.  I'm going to hold off on using it again until it gets a little warmer so I can see if it's worth getting a full size for the summer months.

COOLA Environmental Repair Plus® Radical Recovery™ After-Sun Lotion (full size $32): I try to avoid ever getting a sun burn but hey, it happens!  We spent an hour baking in the sun before our town's Memorial Day parade last week and then another 20 for the actual parade.  My nose got a little red and this did help sooth the inflamed skin.  My husband is the most prone to getting too much sun in our family so I will be keeping this on hand for him.

PIXI Beauty Shea Butter Lip Balm (full size $8): This is the product I was most excited about because I really liked the primer I got in my March ipsy bag.  Pixi can be found at Target so it's not as high end of a brand as usually found in Birchboxes but I still think of it as nicer than most mass retail brands so I was quite happy to see it.

I'm a bit of a lip balm junkie and my favorite category of lip products are balms like this, ones that provide a wash or hint of color without the heaviness of lipstick.  I really liked the Coral Crush color a lot.  It's very fresh for spring and summer.  It's so pretty and flattering on.  I am planning to pick it up in Pixie Pink too.

So that's my Birchbox for May, did anyone else have their box delayed?  I am finding that even if the sample sizes are smaller than what I get from ipsy their rewards system is much better.  I have gotten to try higher end products I wouldn't drop money on a whim.  It's so much nicer to get to try them out and then get a discount of them using Birchbox points!

If you decide to give it a go, please consider using my referral link.  I'd really appreciate it if you do!

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Monday, May 26, 2014

Mani Monday: Extending a Mani with a Basic Scotch Tape Trick

Happy Memorial Day!  I didn't realize this was going to post today until it was too late and it was already emailed out to feed subscribers.  I meant wait to share this next week.  I hope everyone had a lovely day, we had beautiful weather.  All the more reason to be thankful for and remember our armed forces and the sacrifice they make so we can enjoy our freedoms!


A lot of times my tips show a little wear a few days into a mani.  Often I will switch things up every 3-4 days but sometimes I just don't have the time.  An easy way to extend the life of your manicure is to use scotch tape to create a diagonal on the nail.  Then simply paint the top half with a different color.  This works best if it's a bit darker than the original.  Wait a few minutes, I aim for around 3 and then carefully peel off the tape.
Voila, you have created simple and nearly fool proof nail art!  Now you can get a few more days out of your mani.

One more tip, this works because the base coat is already dry, having been worn a few days.  If you want to recreate this look with a fresh mani, it's best to wait at least overnight for the base coat to dry completely before adding the second color.  A variation, would be to do a horizontal line for another half and half look or to lay your tape down closer to the tips for a french mani look.

I've shown this on an accent nail so you can see a bit of a before and after.  The base color is Toucan Do It If You Try and the accent is I Sao Paulo Over There.  Both are from OPI's Brazil collection.

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

Citrus Lane: May 2014 Review

This post contains affiliate links, which save you and me both $$$ :) As always, I'm very appreciative if you decide to sign up and use my link. You'll save 50% off your first box if you do!


The May Citrus Lane box was curated to help get us into the spirit of summer.  No problem with that here, any chance we get we run outside and enjoy the sun!  Included within is a meal time set perfect for eating outdoors, art supplies to help you be creative on the go, and a fun accessory to help keep track of your schedule while enjoying summer.  As usual, there are also some mom helpers included.  This box was packaged for a 34 month old boy.


My son was most excited about this Crocodile Creek Robot Watch, $12.99.  His sister has a few watches and whenever she wears one, he wants one too.  Now he can rock one too!  I will have to watch him carefully though, he is on the rough side and I can totally see him breaking this.

It was really cool to see Crocodile Creek in our box; hope they continue to be featured in upcoming ones.  I'd love to get a water bottle or ball from them.


Faber-Castell is such a high quality brand for art supplies that I was totally surprised to see this set of 12 Duo Tip Washable Markers is only $4.99!  What is awesome about these is that you really get 24 colors.  Ah, if only the supplies I purchase from them for art journaling like their excellent gelatos were so affordable!  Seriously, I have so much on my wish list by them that I am totally thinking about quietly taking these for myself!


A lot of the preview pictures for Citrus Lane seem to include all sorts of adorableness from Skip Hop so I was hoping it wasn't too late to get something from them in a box.  It's probably just me, but I think this shark set is not so cute.  It kind of creeps me out.  When there are so many awesome designs, why oh why did we get this one?  Okay whining aside, it's nice that this set includes both the Shark Plate and Shark Bowl.  When sold separably these have a combined value of $10.  Little man will totally use them and for once have some tableware that isn't hand me downs from big sister so they are a nice inclusion, I bet most little boys would really like a shark versus a dog anyway.


I always think of the mommy helper items as extras throw ins.  It's nice to get a snack pack but not something that would influence whether or not to sign up for the service.  My kiddo loves his fish and cheese crackers so I'm sure he'll gobble these up.

Now the Fresh Feet Wipes for Kids by Jasmine Seven in Grapefruit, I do find helpful. My kiddos live in their Crocs come summer and when they get into the mud or sand those little feet get dirty and smelly.  If these work well I will be looking to get more, so convenient!

Our May Citrus Lane box contained approximately $30 worth of products and considering that our 6 month subscription, purchased during a sale, costs us about $17.67 a month I think that's a great value!  We will get a lot of use out of everything that came.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

May 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

This post contains an ipsy referral link, product links are for information purposes & I do not receive any kind of compensation for these. This is not a sponsored post.


The theme for May's ipsy bag was Fresh Picks and I received six products this time.  I have to admit, I was totally "Meh" about this bag.  The previous two months I've been a subscriber there were multiple items sent that I was excited about, this time not so much.  I added ipsy because I wanted more make up samples than Birchbox was giving me and this time around ipsy seems to be more skin & hair care focused.  That being said, I do still think it was worth the $10 subscription price, it's just that instead of being WOW this month I'm more like, OK.


I do like this month's bag a lot.  It's canvas and not synthetic material like the last two.  It has a nice nature themed designed, although I'd have preferred it to not have ipsy written on the leaves.  The plus is that unlike the other two months this has a bottom so it can stand up on it own and hold more.


Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF 50, full price $12.99: Protect and nourish your skin with our clear, lightweight, naturally scented sunscreen. Provides maximum water resistance and full body coverage against harmful UVA/UVB rays.

- Oxybenzone Free, Paraben Free, Retinyl Palmitate Free, Non-Greasy, Non-Nano, Synthetic Fragrance Free

Weight: 1 oz

I only get excited about sunscreen when it's something I can use on my face, both alone or under make up.  I kind of feel whole body sunscreen, even nicer stuff that is free and more natural like this is can be easily picked up at local stores and not being super picky, I usually buy whatever's on sale.  However, it is big enough to great for keeping in my mom bag for touch up or applying when we are unexpectedly going to be outside longer than I planned.  I will probably slather this on the kiddos as both have sensitive skin.

Avène Thermal Spring Water, full size $12.50: Known for its long history in treating atopic dermatitis, the Avène Thermal Spring Water is the only thermal spring water bottled directly from the source and packaged in a sterile environment to guarantee purity and maximum skin benefits. Its unique composition is proven to soothe inflammation, itching, redness, general sensitivity and post-medical and aesthetic procedure irritation as it softens, protects and purifies the skin. Avène Thermal Spring Water is recommended by dermatologists worldwide.

Spray onto the skin in a fine mist. May leave on for 2 to 3 minutes, and then gently pat dry. Ideal for use after cleansing, shaving, exercise, sun, to soothe diaper rash and set make-up to help keep it fresher looking longer.

Weight: 1.76 oz

I have never used a product like this, I would've thought it would be drying to your face to have some evaporate off of your skin but this is supposed to help with a whole slew of things.  I have tried it a few times, right after cleansing at night and also to set my make up.  I don't know if I saw or felt an amazing difference or anything but it did feel pretty nice when I used it a third way.  This was after taking my son for a walk and to the playground on a sunny day.  Not sure if this is worth the full price and I kinda like the smaller size for travel, I think this is a good size to really try it out and get a feel for it.


Balanced Guru No Frizz Organic Sesame and Lemongrass Balancing Oil, full size $25Balance frizzy hair without the need to weigh it down with silicones. The Balanced Guru No Frizz Organic Sesame and Lemongrass Balancing Oil controls fly aways with a blend of Sesame, Grapeseed, Jojoba and Tamanu Oils. Show your hair who's boss even in humid and tropical weather. By the way, you will also get incredible shine and manageability.

Weight: 0.5 oz

This is a pretty good size sample, half of a full size and since it's oil it has plenty of product for my shoulder length hair to get several uses of.  But this was complete miss for me because I just could not get past the very strong smell.  Since I love lemon and all things citrus scented, my friends joke that it's kinda my thing to  smell like lemon pledge, that I was very surprised by how off putting the smell was.  I used it once but had to rewash my hair by the end of the day.  I also didn't think it worked very well.  I didn't care for the texture my hair had when I used it nor did it tame the frizz.  Maybe I just need a more powerful product.  Anyway, I will find a friend who can use this.


Medium Shade, full size $19.99: Have a Boo-Boo? Skip the bandage and the shiny ointment. Look your best even while you heal with Boo-Boo Cover-Up for the body. Our innovative formula offers great coverage for skin imperfections while containing ingredients known in nature to promote healing. Contains aloe, chamomile, green tea, tea tree oil and vitamin E. Medium shade matches most skin tones.

Weight: 0.34 oz

A full size product was sent!  So that's pretty cool.  I gave it a little try out an itty bitty scratch I had it only took a little bit to cover things up.  It was a bit dark at first but blended in well.  I think since you'd only need it sporadically, it's a pretty fair size.


Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo, full price unavailable as Pacifica does not appear to package their eyeshadow in duos for sale.  Their palettes contain four eyeshadows.

The Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo are coconut infused mineral eye shadows that are a perfect addition to any makeup collection. Packaged in a beautiful travel ready recyclable container, these exclusive duos are customized just for ipsy! These shades can be found in the Pacifica Mystical and Charmed Palette. Smooth application with gorgeous color pay-off.

Weight: 0.07 oz

I got duo #2 with Moonbeam, a pearlescent greyish moody violet to use on lids or create a subtle smoky eye and Unicorn, which is white with sparkling shimmer.  Both are pretty colors and I will enjoy using these.  However, I don't see myself purchasing them because the color pay-off is a little light and I had some fall out as I applied them.  I am going to try it with primer next time to see if I get better results.  It's a shame because I absolutely love their Blood Orange scent, it's my current fave, and their Color Quench Lip Tints.

OVERALL:

I was happy to get the Pacificia sample, even if I wasn't completely in love with it because I get their emails, due to my aforementioned obsession with their fragrances & lip products, and have been very tempted to try their other make up.  This was a nice way to check out their eye shadows out and satisfy my curiosity.

While I wasn't, "Oh yay," to see the Avène Thermal Spring Water or Boo-Boo Cover-up they were both new to me and interesting to try.  The Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF 50 is sunscreen and that is always useful, just not something I want to see in my ipsy bag!

The Boo-Boo Cover-up more than covered the price of the bag and this month's bag is pretty cute and usable so bottom line, May's ipsy was still well worth the $10.  If you decide to sign up for your own bag, it would be fantastic if you'd consider using my referral link!  Thank you in advance for helping me earn ipsy points!

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Giveaway! Chuggington: Explorer Koko DVD

Review copy & giveaway provided by Anchor Bay via a PR intermediary.  


Right now my two year old is totally obsessed with all things train and he especially loves Chuggington.  It's an action-based, high energy, and colorful CGI series for preschoolers about a group of trainee trains that include the DVD's title character Koko.

In each episode the Trainees learn life skills and values as they set out on a training mission that require their courage, speed, and determination.  Older more mature Chuggers often help or provide guidance during these learning experiences.

I like how the skills such as working together, friendship, telling the truth etc. are taught during the course of each episode and how being the best trainee they can be is stressed.  I feel Chuggington provides quality entertainment with a positive message and because it's about trains it's certainly a high interest topic for my little guy!

Explorer Koko ($14.98)  is the newest Chuggington DVD:

Bet you can’t catch Koko! Young trainees and families from coast-to-coast will honk their horns for Koko when she takes the spotlight in “Explorer Koko,” the latest action-packed “Chuggington™” DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Featuring six engaging episodes that help preschoolers tackle everyday challenges and learn important life lessons, the exciting all-new collection is now available!

Everyone’s best friend Koko is chosen to carry the King of Buffertonia and his dignitaries on a special tour of Chuggington. The new release also follows Koko as she gets hooked on a computer game trying to beat Hodge’s high score and finds herself in a heap of trouble when her net shooter fails on the tracks! In these six fast-paced and fun-filled episodes, Brewster, Wilson and Koko discover the importance of teamwork, leadership and more. The new DVD also comes complete with Chugger Spotlights, a bonus Badge Quest Episode and adorable coloring sheets!

Episodes:
  • “Explorer Koko”
  • “Runaway Koko”
  • “Fearless Wilson”
  • “Koko’s Game”
  • “Hodge’s Secret”
  • “Inspector Emery"
DVD Bonus Features:
  • Badge Quest Episode: “Knowing Where You Are”
  • Character Montages: Irving and Chatsworth
  • Coloring and Activity Sheets
Run Time: 64 Minutes
(Click Image Above to Download Your Own Copy)

Once the kiddos are done watching the trainee's adventures on Explorer Koko, use this Scavenger Hunt Activity Sheet to get them outdoors and exploring their own environment.  There are all sorts things for the kids to look for and find.  I think it would be super fun to also take a picture of each item as you find it. Then you can print them out and put them into an inexpensive photo album and use it as a photo walk book to remember your Chuggington inspired adventure!

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Monday, May 19, 2014

Mani Monday: OPI's Japanese Tea Garden & Blush Hour


Since I have been getting a monthly nail polish subscription box I thought it would be fun to share how the polishes look on my nails.  But as you can tell from the title, this won't be limited to one brand.  I wanted to kick things off by featuring my all time favorite brand, OPI.  In terms of overall quality, consistency, and ease of application as a brand, it's hard to beat.

This mani combines Japanese Rose Garden, a pink rose cream, from the Far East Collection with an accent nail top coat of Blush Hour, a dense fuchsia glitter with purple, pink, and silver from the Spotlight on Glitter Collection.  I think the two combine for a very pretty girly look.  Blush Hour is seriously one fabulous glitter and with so many colors that it's very versatile.

If I do an accent nail, it's normally the right finger.  How about you?  Which finger or fingers do you like to highlight?

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Julep Review: May 2014 Maven Box


Hello fellow nail polish fanatics, it's time to check out what came in this month's Julep Maven box!  I switched things up and moved from the Classic with a Twist profile to Bombshell.  This is a simple to do as long as you check in during the Maven reveal period, which is the 20th-24th each month.  You just click over to see the previews and you have the option to select the one you like best.  I really wanted Laree and was not disappointed, it's really lovely!  I also added on one polish this month and got Maddy, the color from my default style profile that I liked.


Let's get onto what came in the box.  First up is the nail polish.  Each of these retail for $14 with $11.20 Maven pricing when purchased individually.


Laree: Golden pink taffeta shimmer

So so amazing, the gold shimmer in the pink is just fabulous!  I kept looking at my nails all day long while wearing this shade.  My daughter said it's her favorite pink from Julep ever.  It's so different from the other colors I have because the shimmer is gold; I love it!


Saaya: Golden apricot shimmer

I think the shimmer is harder to see in the bottle because like Laree, it has a golden shimmer that's closer to the base apricot shade.  It's so pretty on the nail.  The shimmer keeps it from looking flat and in my opinion makes it more interesting than a straight creme.  I really am enjoying this shade a lot more than I expected.  I am really into these peach/apricot shades this spring and I like this one for it's brightness.


Maddy: Raspberry sorbet shimmer

This is the one I added on for a reduced up charge, I think it was $4.99.  If I had not gone in and switched my box I would have received this and Ramona, and I just wasn't that excited about the second shade.  The ability to switch is such a good feature of this subscription; I'm so glad for that option because otherwise, I think my overall satisfaction with this month would have been pretty low.  While I like this, I am so in love with the other two that I probably could've gone without it.

I haven't done a whole manicure with Maddy but have used it as an accent nail.  It's a much deeper color and bolder color than the other two and the shimmer. while still present, is not as noticeable as I'd have preferred.  I think had Maddy not come with Laree & Saaya it might have stood out more favorably, but seriously, it would've been hard for most colors to compare this time around.  Had I gotten my original Classic with a Twist box I am sure this would've been my favorite item in the box!


Julep Plié Wand™: Plié Wand, Plié overcap, Precision brush

What it is:
An ergonomic nail polishing tool designed to solve common polishing pain points and give you better results. Imagine if you’d spent your whole life writing with a pen cap and then someone finally handed you a full-size pen. That’s what it feels like to polish with the Plié Wand.

What it does:
Long, balanced design improves leverage, comfort, and control
Flexible handle twists and bends so you can get a better grip
Plié overcap fits on any Julep nail polish and attaches to Plié Wand
Precision brush lets you polish closer to your nail

Retail Price: $25/$20 Maven, Currently back ordered until June

Each month I can expect two polishes and a third item.  Last month it was a super pretty peachy blush and time it's their new wand, that they are making a big fuss about.  I haven't had time to use this yet.  I am sure it requires practice to get good results and this month has been too crazy busy for that!  I'll let you know what I think in the future.


Plié Wand Precision Brush

Our precision brushes feature a shorter stem that lets you get closer to your nail while polishing. For best results, pop on a Plié overcap and attach to the Plié Wand. Includes a Precision brush and a Plié overcap.

Retail Price: $6/currently no Maven discount


My mind isn't made up on the wand or brush yet, but since the polish is the real attraction to subscribing to Julep, overall I will reiterate that these are some awesome colors this month!  I hope you've found my reviews helpful, and if you are interested in the amazing colors, that you will consider using my referral link.  I would really appreciate it, thank you!


This is a fantastic time to sign up by the way!  Not only are there some more customization options starting next month, check this 5 piece gift with subscription sign up that I saw on My Subscription Addiction!  That is an awesome introduction box!  There is also the best free gift with $40 purchase going on right now as well!

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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Grandma Necklaces for Mother's Day


This year spring time has been crazy busy.  Between hosting a bid Brownie Scout event, my daughter's First Communion this weekend, and time unexpectedly needed mourn a beloved Great Grandfather we had our hands full.  Normally, I enjoy planning and creating handmade gifts or keepsakes from the kids to their Grandmothers for Mother's Day but this year things had to be semi handmade and I was the one doing the making.

My daughter liked the idea of giving them a Grandma Necklace, with a jewel or in our case a colored bead representing each grandchild.  We purchased the necklace chains, jump rings, and colored beads locally but to ramp up the wow factor we out sourced the beautifully stamped sterling silver charms.

Only have a few basic jewelry making tools and not a lot of skill or know how but these were easy to assemble as I only had to pry open the jump rings, put on the premade beads, and then close up.  It was a quick way to add a bit of handmade to this gift.


My children call my mom Grammy and Brad's mom Grandma Norma.  It's not often I see a Grammy charm so when Five Little Birds was featured on Zulily I picked it up right away.  At the same time I also got my MIL a Grandma charm.  Hers has the same two July "Rubies" that my mom's has for my two kids and also a April "Diamond" for our niece.


We packaged each necklace inside box and then tucked it inside a pillow box I made using a free template I printed out onto the blank side of a piece of patterned paper from an American Crafts Dear Lizzy collection.  A bone folder helped made assembly easy and within minutes we had pretty little holders to help make presentation lovelier.

I hope they like them!

I've shared this post on Do Tell Tuesday.

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Please note this post contains a referral link to Zulily, that earns me credit if you sign up for the service and make a purchase.

Friday, May 2, 2014

DVD Giveaway! Celebrate Science with Sid the Science Kid, The Octonauts, and The Cat in the Hat Knows Best

Review copies and giveaway provided by NCircle Entertainment.  The thoughts and opinions within are both personal and unbiased by this.  


Spring is here and since we're all eager to get outside it's the perfect time to celebrate science and the natural world around us!  NCircle Entertainment is one of my favorites because their mission is to provide "Entertainment that Educates" and the three titles I have to giveaway are perfect examples of just that.

Now that my oldest is seven and a half and transitioning to non animated shows I appreciate the education portion more and more.  I really love that Side the Science Kid, The Octonauts, and The Cat in the Hat Knows Best are all informative while still being able to entertain both a 2.5 and 7.5 year old at the same time!

Let's check out which titles NCircle Entertainment is providing in the giveaway and keep reading until you get to the Rafflecopter entry box.  (Subscribers will need to click over to enter.)



After a rainstorm, the sun comes out and Sid spots a big rainbow in the sky. He races inside to tell his parents, but by the time he brings them outside to see it, the rainbow is gone. Sid and his friends investigate rainbows at school where they discover that rainbows can only form when light passes through water droplets.

Themes explored include: Where does light come from? How are shadows made? How are rainbows created? What causes darkness?

We love Sid and always sing along to the catchy songs when watching.  This was one of the first preschool shows I was really impressed back when my daughter was just starting to be able to sit long enough to watch a show.  I love how they model the scientific process on the show and how the kids use their science journal.  I have learned lots of facts while watching this show over the years.



This DVD includes the following exciting adventures: Captain Barnacles leads a mission to rescue Dashi, who is trapped inside a giant whale shark; Kwazii takes to the skies to retrieve a precious book from a school of flying fish; Peso tries to bandage a Great White Shark without becoming his lunch – and much more! Plus, in a special extra feature, Tweak & Tunip tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Gup-X!

When the Octonauts first came on television, my first thought was that this was one of the cutest styles of animation ever.  Besides the adorable delivery, I really like how you not only learn about different plants and animals, they also touch on environmental issues in an easily accessible and understandable way for children.



Join the Cat in the Hat on a trip into space, and learn why the cosmos is such a cool place! In this new DVD, the Cat and his friends visit each of the planets, the sun and the stars. Young viewers can learn why day turns to night thanks to our friend, the sun.

Space is always such an interesting topic to kids but some of the books about it can be very dry and so factual based that they are a little boring for younger kids.  This DVD is a great way to help nurture your future astronaut.

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