The Intrepid Traveler

My husband and I honeymooned in Walt Disney World, and it was truly the most memorable vacation we've ever taken. The hotel was beautiful, the people were sincere, and everywhere we went we felt that magic that you can only feel by being there. Since then, we talked numerous times about going back. Someday we will, but for right now we'll have to get our Disney fix by going to nearby Disneyland (also fabulous), and by myriad books on the subject.

We recently added the Walt Disney World Trivia Books, Volumes 1 and 2, to our collection. These charming travel books are written by Louis A. Mongello and are published by The Intrepid Traveler. I love reading anything Disney related, but these books are especially delightful because you get to test your own knowledge of the parks. Each chapter is arranged geographically and presented as brain-teasing multiple choice questions. Some of the questions were so interesting that I found myself racing to find the answers. Luckily, they're easy to get to and provide additional in-depth historical and background information that's fascinating to read. I was surprised to learn that a permanent residential community was built on Walt Disney World property, but never implemented. These books are chock full of little nuggets of trivia like that. They are incredibly versatile as well - you can read a chapter a day for fun, take them with you on an airplane, or host a friendly Disney knowledge competition.

The Intrepid Traveler website also has many other titles to help you get the most out of your travels, such as America's Best Zoos, Universal Orlando 2009, and The Family Sabbatical Handbook. Check out the full list of travel books here.

Thursday Thoughts

Sometimes a random thought will pop into my head and remain there for a number of days. These thoughts are always simple - it can be an observation, a useful tip, a feeling, an idea, a memory, or a quote I've just discovered. I usually don't do anything with these thoughts, but I don't want to forget them so I decided to create a place where I could share them. If you'd like to share your own thoughts, leave them in the comments, or email me and I may feature your thought in a future post.
Today's Thought:

After three months of only wanting to sleep with Mommy, my son is finally sleeping in his crib again. While this is a good thing, a small part of me misses it.

Wordless Wednesday - Birthday Present from Hubby (iPod touch)

Cereal for Kids

My son has just discovered that he really likes cereal. I always had trouble feeding him breakfast because he didn't seem to want to eat anything early in the morning. Turns out, he probably was bored with eating the same old foods - and since we don't eat much cereal here he never really got a chance to try it.

Well, General Mills has convinced me that we should be eating more cereal. First of all, their Big G kid cereals (including Kix, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more) offer a good source of both calcium and vitamin D in each serving. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently doubled the vitamin D recommendation for children, a fact that I was unaware of until now.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and all the other Big G kid cereals were ranked in the top half of a recent report in a leading consumer magazine for nutritional content. All Big G kid cereals have at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams are recommended daily), and all have 12 grams or less of sugar per serving.

One of my all time favorite cereals growing up was Cinnamon Toast Crunch. As you can see, my son likes it too. In fact, I poured myself a bowl intending to share it with him, but he stole it away from me and wanted it all for himself. I feel good knowing that he's getting a nutritious breakfast and a good amount of calcium and vitamin D - two key nutrients that he needs for bone growth. To learn more about Big G kid cereals, visit the website here.

EyeBuyDirect - Review and Giveaway

Most people don't see me wearing glasses, but I actually depend on them a lot. In the evenings, when my eyes tend to get tired and my vision becomes blurry I give my eyes a rest by taking out my contact lenses. I'm pretty blind without them though, so this is where a pair of glasses comes in handy. Unfortunately, my toddler got a hold of my only pair and managed to break them. Thanks to Family Review Network however, I got to pick a new pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect, an online eyeglass company.

The new glasses are great! They are actually a better fit than my old ones and the glass is top-notch. The selection is amazing - everything from simple plastic frames to trendy designer styles are available. You can even upload your photo and virtually try on any pair of glasses, which is a fun and practical feature. The prices also can't be beat. With glasses starting at $7.95, you really can't go wrong here.

The checkout process is super simple: just enter your prescription (or you can order non-prescription "fashion" frames), select any upgrades that you want and you're good to go. My Heart glasses arrived in perfect condition with a case and a handy cleaning cloth. I will definitely be coming back here the next time I need a pair of glasses!

WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a coupon code for a pair of eyeglasses (excluding sunglasses and designer frames), including any upgrade up to $100 with free shipping. To enter, visit www.eyebuydirect.com, then leave a comment on this post telling me which frames you would choose if you won. Please leave your email address. Deadline to enter is Monday, March 2nd at Midnight. Winner must provide a U.S. or Canadian mailing address (Canadians must pay the cost of shipping).

Tot School

I discovered some blogs doing Tot School and decided to join in on the fun! I thought it would be a great way to record my son's playtime and also a good excuse to take pictures of him. This week we focused a lot on colors. Here are some of the activities we did:



We read this Baby Einstein book together. He had fun lifting the flaps to reveal pictures of yummy, colorful fruit.

Here he is organizing his toys into the appropriate colored box.


This is a little something to help him learn his colors. I went to Home Depot, picked up a few Disney paint samples and laid them out on the table. Right now we're just pointing to each card and saying the color, but my eventual plan is to mix them up, flip them over and turn it into a fun little matching/memory game.

He also had fun decorating cookies and building with his blocks. It's such a joy to observe him as he learns and plays!

Stay Germ-Free with Remi-D

Something I've always noticed people doing, (moms especially) is slathering themselves and their children with hand sanitizer. I have never been one of those people. It just seems like a lot of hassle to cart the bottle around, open it, slap on some sticky, slimy goop and then spend the rest of the day trying to wash it off. I do think the idea of a hand sanitizer is a good one, but it was just too much work to make it worthwhile.

I got to try out Remi-D hand sanitizing mist, courtesy of Mom Fuse. With all the sickness going around lately, I figured it was worth a shot. I love the cute little bottle with its easy flip-top cap. It's extremely portable and the cucumber tea tree scent is refreshing. More importantly though, is that it's all natural and alcohol free so it's safe to use around kids. It's simple to use - flip the top, spray it, rub it, and that's it. No sticky, goopy mess to deal with, AND it doesn't dry out your hands!

Remi-D is available at fine food and drug stores like CVS and ShopRite. Two new scents, Mountain Stream and Seaside Mineral Spa will soon be added. Since it's easy to transport, I feel good knowing that I can combat germs everywhere I go. To learn more about Remi-D and additional products, check out their website here.

Thursday Thoughts

Sometimes a random thought will pop into my head and remain there for a number of days. These thoughts are always simple - it can be an observation, a useful tip, a feeling, an idea, a memory, or a quote I've just discovered. I usually don't do anything with these thoughts, but I don't want to forget them so I decided to create a place where I could share them. If you'd like to share your own thoughts, leave them in the comments, or email me and I may feature your thought in a future post.
Today's Thought:

Every time my son pulls all the toilet paper off the roll I promise myself it won't happen again. So I promise, it won't happen ever again...

Wordless Wednesday - Valentine's Day Dessert

Where To Get Care

If you're a parent, then chances are you've had to arrange for a babysitter at one time or another. This is no easy task, especially if you don't have any family close by who you can conveniently dump your children off with. There's always your friends, but sometimes they're not available either, and you might feel a little guilty subjecting them to your screaming toddler. I've often wondered, "If I absolutely needed a babysitter and I couldn't find somebody to help me, what would I do?" And I really didn't have an answer to that question until I found out about care.com.

Care.com has done all the hard work for you. For example, instead of having to searching for childcare providers on your own, just do a search for your area and you're provided with a list of caregivers near you. They are pre-screened with recorded references and background checks available. In addition, you can read reviews, view availability and send messages to potential caregivers to speak with them further. It's free to sign up with the website - you'll get limited access to caregiver profiles. If you want unlimited access to all caregivers and free background checks, opt for a premium membership starting at $25.

In addition to Child Care, there are a number of services available including Special Needs, Tutoring, Senior Care, Pet Care, Housekeeping, and Care Gigs. These are all services that I just wouldn't know how to go about finding by myself, so it's great to have a resource like this that has all the information in one place. This website provides a simple and safe way for families and individuals to get the care that they need. The myriad of interesting and relevant articles is impressive and helpful. Anyone who needs care can benefit from Care.com. Check out the FAQs if you'd like to learn even more.

Toddler Virtues

Patience. Courage. Tolerance. Kindness. These are all virtues that I hope to teach my son and that he will eventually pass on to others. Monika Hall, founder of Toddler Virtue Tees has created a way for us to do just that through her educational, yet adorable shirts. These tees feature one of the four virtues: Patience, Courage, Tolerance or Kindness, with a brief description of each one. They also include the Confucius symbol representing complete harmony with oneself and neighbor. They are available in sizes 2-4, in a variety of different colors...and according to the website, a fifth virtue will be added in the Spring, as well as sizes for youth and mommies. My son received the Courage tee, which arrived in perfect condition and is super soft. Lately, he's been extremely picky about what he wears, but as soon as he spotted his new shirt he wanted to put it on. He looked happy, comfy and absolutely adorable in it!

Toddler Virtues tees are not only a great way to teach these virtues, but they also work as a means of passing these teachings on to others. In fact, the website outlines five steps you can take in order to do this: read the virtue to your toddler, define the virtue, tell a story relaying the virtue, repeat these steps each time the shirt is worn, and finally, pass it on. When your toddler is done with his or her shirt, pass it on to a friend and keep the virtue alive. You can even send your ourgrown tee back where it will be distributed to homeless shelter or soup kitchen, if you don't know anybody to pass it on to. It's the little steps like these that I love and that I know will make a big difference in the future if we all take the time to follow them.

WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a toddler virtue tee of his or her choice! To enter, visit the website and tell me which tee you would pick if you win. Please leave your email address. Deadline to enter is Monday, February 23rd at Midnight. Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

The Best Chocolate You Will Ever Eat

Valentine's Day always makes me think of chocolate. Sure, flowers, a card, a nice romantic breakfast or dinner are all great things, but if I only get a piece of chocolate on Valentine's Day I'm a happy camper. These are my absolute favorite chocolates in the world:

The Runner-Up: Guylian Seashells

I won a huge box of these when I was around fourteen years old, at a raffle that my ballet studio was doing. From the first bite, I was hooked. Not only do they look pretty, but the praline filling is addicting. I basically had the whole box finished in one day. These are available pretty much anywhere as well. I've seen them at Target and at regular grocery stores so I have to be careful not to pick up a box every time I go out. I don't actually do this - they're much to yummy to eat just any old day. I like to eat these on special occasions. When I can't get my REAL favorites, Guylian Seashells are what I turn to. So what's my absolute favorite chocolate, you ask? Well...

The Winner: Purdy's Chocolates

Purdy's is a Canadian chocolate company that is not even available in all of Canada. I grew up living fifteen minutes away from TWO Purdy's chocolate shops and having no idea how lucky I was. If you think you've had gourmet chocolate, think again. Thankfully, they have a website and will ship to the U.S., so I do always have the option of ordering some if I want to. My mom has also been known to surprise me with some from time to time, so I guess I'm covered. Everything is absolutely divine, but here are a few things that you have got to try if when you make an order:


These are Peanut Butter Daisies. Trust me, you've never had a peanut butter filling as good as this one. One bite and all that creamy goodness will win you over.



If you're a fan of mint chocolate, the Mint Meltie Bar will be a welcome addition. Just make sure to buy a lot because you'll definitely want more. You know all those times when you think "I really wish I had some chocolate right now"? This is perfect for that - just pop one in your bag and you'll always be prepared in the event of a chocolate crisis.


I saved the best for last. This Hedgehog may look cute, but don't let that fool you into not eating it...because that would be a horrible mistake. I have no words to describe it, so I'll let Purdy's do the talking for me: Purdy’s legendary Hedgehogs are made with our creamy hazelnut truffle filling, in a shell of lavish milk chocolate - often imitated, never duplicated. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than this.

For some reason, I couldn't find the Tiger Butter on the website but it is also amazing. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to some Purdy's this year. Their Valentine's Collection is looking pretty stellar. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Have you ever tried any of these chocolates? What are your favorite chocolate companies?

Manifest Your Magnificence

I like to think of myself as a pretty positive person. I try to see the good in all things and I strive to help others be optimistic by being a positive example. So when someone or something comes along that can help me in this quest, it makes me extremely happy.

This is exactly how I feel about Manifest Your Magnificence Cards, created by Susan T Howson of Magnificent Creations Limitee. This is a delightful set of 64 affirmation cards that serve as a reminder for children of their magnificence. Each card is beautifully illustrated with lush colors and feature a positive saying on both sides. For example, one of the cards states "I am Positive" on the front and "I always see the good in every situation" on the back. I especially love that the "I Am" statements are explained and described on the back because often we don't even think about what these words actually mean. View more examples of the cards here.

There are a myriad of uses for the cards as well. Your child can pick a card and express what it means by drawing, writing, acting, singing, dancing, or talking. They can carry a card with them or decorate their room with them to remind them that they are truly special. I think it would be tons of fun to choose a card as a family and have that statement be your theme for the week. You can think about how the card relates to your daily activities for one week and then report back to the family the next time you all get together. The possibilities are endless and that's what makes these cards so magnificent! You can get your own set of cards as well as an accompanying CD here. Here's to magnificence and making the world a better place!

Thank you to Family Review Network for this review opportunity.

Thursday Thoughts

Sometimes a random thought will pop into my head and remain there for a number of days. These thoughts are always simple - it can be an observation, a useful tip, a feeling, an idea, a memory, or a quote I've just discovered. I usually don't do anything with these thoughts, but I don't want to forget them so I decided to create a place where I could share them. If you'd like to share your own thoughts, leave them in the comments, or email me and I may feature your thought in a future post.
Today's Thought:

My son is getting better about being left with a babysitter, although I think that inside I'm crying more than he is. I don't know how I'll ever send him off to school, but for now I'm grateful for every single second I get to spend with him.

Wordless Wednesday - Chillin' in New Mexico

VeggieTales!

Before last week, I had never watched VeggieTales. Two years ago when my son was born I received a few VeggieTales books, and found them to be pretty entertaining with a valuable message. So when Family Review Network offered me a chance to review the latest title in the DVD collection, Abe & the Amazing Promise, I was pretty excited. Honestly, besides my brief introduction with the books I had no idea what the Veggie Tales were about. I was confused - talking vegetables? I had to check this out for myself and get to the bottom of all the fuss.

Turns out, the fuss is about a bunch of talking vegetables but they're hilarious...and great teachers too. I thought it would be hard to take them seriously, but I really enjoyed watching the Bible story of Abraham and Sarah and their wait for a promised son. Bob the Tomato and his film crew manage to pull off a funny, lighthearted adventure without compromising the message, that of being patient.

The DVD also features the silly song, Sneeze if you Need To and the musical mis-adventure, Blunders in Boo-Boo-Ville. This story had great music and I definitely learned a thing or two about taking the time to do things the right way. My son is a bit too young to understand the concepts, but he seemed to enjoy the music and the characters. I'm sure he'll grow to appreciate it in a couple of years.

There are also tons of bonus features such as a behind the scenes look, director's commentary, interactive game, discussion guide and more! So much fun...if you're a fan of VeggieTales, I would check this one out. And if you've never seen it before, you can view a clip of the show here.

Got "Scents"? Get Glade

Before I had my baby, I honestly didn't care how my house smelled as long as it didn't smell bad. I never really got into candles or those smelly sprays - plain air was good enough for me. Well, after the baby came the air actually did turn sour. A mixture of diapers, vomit and spit-up wasn't exactly refreshing and so I had to step up and do something. Candles were impractical, sprays didn't last long enough and plug-in's are great at first but lose their power way too soon. Plus, they're expensive. Thanks to Family Review Network however, I got to try a new product to combat those less than desirable smells.

Sense & Spray by Glade is an air freshener that freshens any room, but only when you need it. The neat part about it is that it uses automatic motion sensor technology - every thirty minutes it will release a fresh burst of fragrance as long as it detects motion. When you're not around, it won't spray, therefore making it last longer. If you want an extra burst of fragrance, simply press the "boost" button to release more.

The unit is handy, and extremely easy to set up. I literally took it out of the box and put it to work. It comes with batteries, which is convenient and the Apple Cinnamon fragrance smells great. Plus, it's exciting to see that little burst of fragrance spray when you walk by it! Glade Sense & Spray also comes in Clean Linen, Powder Fresh and Country Garden fragrances.

WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a Glade Sense & Spray starter kit. To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Monday, February 16th at Midnight and tell me which scent sounds the most appealing to you. Please provide your email address. Winner must provide a U.S. or Canadian mailing address.

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and giveaway.

The Results Are In

A big thank you to all those who took my survey last week. It was suggested that I post the results, so that's exactly what I shall do right now:

90% of you who read Mama Sparkles are female (thanks to my hubby for taking the survey.)

90% of you have children under 2.

Almost all of you have a blog, or read blogs regularly. About half of you have a Facebook account and a little less than half of you Twitter.

You all stop in every day, every other day or weekly. Thank you so much for reading so regularly!

All of you love to read personal posts. As far as product reviews go, it's pretty split - some of you enjoy learning about a new product and reading another mom's opinion about it; others don't care to read them at all. In the future, I'm going to keep doing product reviews for those that like them, but try to increase the number of personal posts.

Many of you also like Thursday Thoughts - I've been told that the introduction is a bit lengthy, so I may do something about that too.

Most of you thought that a "monthly feature" column was a good idea. Some of you were skeptical though because I guess the title is a bit misleading. The featured theme would only last for one week, not one month as the title may suggest. Maybe a new name is in order...any suggestions?

Thanks once again to all those who took the time to take my survey. If you haven't yet had a chance to take it, I would love your feedback! You will find it here.

Thursday Thoughts

Sometimes a random thought will pop into my head and remain there for a number of days. These thoughts are always simple - it can be an observation, a useful tip, a feeling, an idea, a memory, or a quote I've just discovered. I usually don't do anything with these thoughts, but I don't want to forget them so I decided to create a place where I could share them. If you'd like to share your own thoughts, leave them in the comments, or email me and I may feature your thought in a future post.
Today's Thought:

My son is almost two and he's becoming more hyper and "terrible" each day...on the other hand, this only makes him that much cuter which I didn't think could be possible.

Be a Mom of the Revolution

Do any of these statements describe you or somebody you know?

A mom who takes action for better nutrition.
A mom who seeks to redefine the lunchbox.
A mom who advocates for change in the lunch line.

I would love to be that mom, but I have a lot to learn before I get there. Kiwi Magazine and Revolution Foods are two wonderful resources if you're looking to reach this goal.

I started reading Kiwi Magazine sometime last year, and it is awesome. The wonderful articles and resources are designed to help parents raise their children in the healthiest way possible. Kiwi Magazine is where I go to learn more about natural and organic products, "green" living, healthy recipes and fun eco-crafts. And not that this really matters, but I also love the glossy cover and pages.

Revolution Foods is something that I just discovered, and it sounds really cool. It began with a founding team who believed that all students should have access to healthy, fresh food on a daily basis. They promote healthy nutrition by delivering wholesome meals and providing food education to schools across the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles Metropolitan area. We're talking meals like all-natural chicken teriyaki served with fresh broccoli, carrots and snow peas atop organic brown and basmati rice - sounds absolutely delicious! They also sell a number of tasty lunchbox snacks online and in selected stores. This is a company looking to make a difference, and so far it seems like they doing a commendable job.

Right now, KIWI Magazine and Revolution Foods are searching for hometown heroes that are making a difference in their kids communities through healthy initiatives big or small. Five moms will be selected to be featured in Kiwi Magazine, receive a free Kiwi subscription, and a one year supply of healthy lunchbox snacks for their family. One of these lucky moms will win the GRAND PRIZE of $3,000 in cash to help fund their own healthy School Lunch Revolution!

If this sounds like you or somebody you know, share your story! Enter the Mom of the Revolution contest here and take the first steps toward making a difference in your community.

Wordless Wednesday - By Popular Request...

Need A Card? Look No Further...

I don't know about you, but I love it when somebody gives me a card that they've made themselves. At one time I tried to keep every single card I received, but I've since had to cut back and be choosy about the ones I save. If it includes a heartfelt message, I'll keep it. The same goes for cards that have been handmade, just for me. These hold a personal touch and give me a happy feeling that I just wouldn't get with any old card. Here with me today is Cula Parker, a local demonstrator for Stampin'Up! This is just a small sampling of the amazing things she can do with stamps:

Cula is a stamping extraordinaire - I've watched in awe as she turns mere paper into incredible cards and other projects within seconds. She readily donates her time and expertise to benefit charities, schools and people like me who like to stamp for fun. Through her patience and excellent guidance, I've created beautiful cards and projects that I never would have thought I could do. She holds classes where you can learn different stamping techniques, make fun projects, or work on your own scrapbook or cards. See her website for more details. She's also a terrific mama, making her that much more awesome! I had the pleasure of asking Cula a few questions about herself and her business:

How did you discover stamping?

I discovered stamping about 15 years ago and wasn't really devoted to any company, then i discovered Stampin' Up! in 2005 and fell in love with thier products! The quality is far better than any other company, after purchasing for about 2 years i decided to become a Demonstrator to help support my stamping habit.

How long have you had your Stampin'Up business?

I'm celebrating my first year this February.

What do you enjoy most about being a demonstrator for Stampin' Up?

I feel so completely blessed to have so many great roles in my life....wife, mother, sister, teacher and along with all those roles I'm also very excited to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I truly LOVE what I do !!! I get to stamp and earn money !! Who wouldn't love that !! I am passionate about all the roles in my life and keeping them all in balance. I love that part of Stampin' Up!'s goals is also to help keep all these things in balance too ! How many bosses do you know that want you to spend time doing what you love with the people you love !!!

I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction teaching someone who has never stamped before and watching them fall in love with stamping, just like I did. I love teaching and stretching experienced stampers and helping them grow in this incredible craft and all the while always pushing myself to learn more and bring the best of myself and stamping to those around me

What are some of your favorite stamping techniques?

I love 2-step stamping and watercoloring. I also love to find new ways to use my punches.

What advice do you have for people who are just beginning to stamp?

Don't be intimadated(i know it's hard). Pick a versatile stamp set and a few ink pads, and a pack of cardstock and start from there. I promise that the rest will follow.

What are some of your favorite website or places to get inspiration?

I love the Stampin'Up! Website for Demo's! There are so many great ideas and techinques. I also gather ideas from fellow Demonstrators.

Where can one get more information about the classes that you offer?

My Website http://culaparker.stampinup.net/ has my class schedule and includes Club Offerings. I also have ideas posted to my blog at http://www.culaparker.blogspot.com/

Thanks Cula, for spending time with us today! Cula has also generously donated a Stampin'Up! gift pack for one lucky winner! It includes:

Coluzzle cutting system with circle and oval templates
6x6 designer series paper in Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Love and Happiness rub-on's - 1 sheet Basic Black and 1 sheet Wild Wasabi(retired)
Make It Count stamp set(retired)
Basic Black stampin' spot
Stampin' Up! Designer Chapstick

To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Tuesday, February 10th at Midnight. Please include your email address. Winner must provide a U.S. or Canadian mailing address.