Fun Website - KneeBouncers

My two year old son is fascinated by things that have buttons and make sounds - like computers. I officially banned him though, after he managed to almost delete a few files among other things. Ever since then, he points to the computer and whines. Giving him another toy with buttons doesn't work...he wants the REAL thing.

Recently, I was introduced to KneeBouncers, a website that features games for babies and toddlers. These games are designed to be played simply by pressing keys on the keyboard, and watching different things happen. Children can pop bubbles, make music, or make silly noises. There are no rules, and the games are colorful and fun.

I allowed my son the use of my new laptop because he can press any key he wants and not mess anything up. Plus, it just made him so darn happy. His favorite game is Peek-a-boo. There are thirteen games in all, with more on the way. I'm so glad that my son can have a little fun on the computer now. You can also register with the website and contribute to the family forum, get free downloads, and learn more about the characters seen in the games. The games themselves are free to play as well. Check it out and have fun!

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.

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.

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.

Blog Anniversary Week - Get Trendy

When I first started a blog I was envious of all the blogs that had cute and pretty designs. Mine on the other hand was extremely basic with no character. Knowing absolutely nothing about graphic design, I sought help from people who did. Unfortunately, a blog makeover was a bit more expensive than I had imagined, and so I decided to stick with my "boring" design a little longer.

By sheer luck, I stumbled upon The Trendy Mommy Blog Designs. A quick look at the pricing and samples determined that the designs were stylish as well as affordable, and so I signed up immediately. The service was impressive. Jen created a custom design that was exactly what I wanted and she was so easy to work with. From the looks of all the unique designs in her portfolio, it seems like there's nothing she can't do! If you're thinking about a new look for your blog I definitely recommend you check out The Trendy Mommy Blog Designs.

WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a premade header (with your own blog name), with a coordinating background. To enter, view the premade headers here and tell me in a comment which one you would choose if you won. Please leave your email address. Deadline to enter is Monday, February 2nd at Midnight.

I've Been Featured!

Hey everyone! I'm the featured blogger over at Katydid and Kid today. Check it out here. See you over there!

If you're a mama who lives in San Diego...

I have a wonderful resource for you. San Diego Bargain Mama is where you'll find valuable info such as great deals around town, freebies for the family, helpful savings tips and so much more! There are a myriad of interesting articles to read, written by moms, professionals and experts, special events listings, contests and bargain alerts which point you toward incredible deals at your favorite stores. I literally could spend hours at this website. I especially love the accompanying blog where I've found special discounts and events going on around town that I've never seen anywhere else. Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter so you don't miss a thing!

San Diego Bargain Mama is also the generous sponsor of this week's contest: a pair of tickets to see Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour (runs January 28th, 30th, 31st and February 1st). I'm proud to admit that I'm a fan of the latest High School Musical movie. Since it was advertised as being the "feel good movie of the year", I had to go see it because I'm a sucker for things like that. I took my husband and we actually enjoyed it (me especially). I'm already a huge fan of ice skating, so High School Musical on ice sounds like a real winner to me!

WANT TO WIN? If you live in, or are planning to visit San Diego in the next week or two, listen up! One winner will receive a pair of complimentary passes to High School Musical: The Ice Tour. To enter, visit San Diego Bargain Mama and tell me your favorite aspect of the site. Deadline to enter is Monday, January 19th at Midnight. Please leave your email address. Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

Listen Up!

I just discovered this nifty little website called PimpMyNews. Blogging is no longer limited to your computer - now you can listen to blogs on your iPod/MP3 player, iPhone, in the car, pretty much anytime and anywhere! You can apply to have your own blog listed, so that's what I did. Go ahead and listen to my blog posts here. It's worth it just to hear the funny robot man/woman reading. Check out the site to see all the available blogs and make your own playlist. Thanks for listening!

Trendy Mommy Website Launch!

I'm so excited, because today is the official launch day of the Trendy Mommy website. The website serves to complement to The Trendy Mommy blog and features the latest trends in infant, toddler, school age, and mommy fashion! In addition, the site features a weekend guide with family friendly things to do in various cities. Yours truly will be writing the guide each week for San Diego! So head on over to the website and check it out. I'll meet you over there.

Browsing for Baby Boutiques

One of my favorite things to do when I have time is to search for baby boutiques online. There are a lot of cute ones, and many of them are mom-owned businesses. Here are three that I like to look at:

A Rocking Horse To Love
There is something about rocking horses that have always seemed special to me. They are so simple, yet so unique and I've never seen a child not smile at one. A Rocking Horse To Love has a beautiful selection and they are so much fun to browse.

Gissy Bella
My favorite item from Gissy Bella is the Comfy Crawlers.


I bought these for my son when he started crawling, and they were a lifesaver! The built-in knee pads protected his little knees as he raced across our hardwood floors. Even though he can walk now, he still has a pair that he wears, as he spends so much time on the floor and getting into mischief. This boutique has a lot of other adorable gifts as well.

Chocolate Cake Club
I could spend forever looking at all the unique items at Chocolate Cake Club! Their goal is to provide products that will make our lives as busy parents a little easier. They have a lot of great things to help you get organized and of course, a great selection of gifts.

Do you like to shop/browse online for your kids? Where's your favorite place to go?

Blogcoach

I've been blogging for almost five months now and I have to say it's been extremely enjoyable and rewarding. I do however, still consider myself to be relatively new at it. It can be frustrating at times when I'm trying to figure out how to do something on my blog to make it more appealing, and I'm not able to find the resources to make it happen.That's why I was excited when today, I discovered that Angie over Baby Cheapskate has launched a new website called Blogcoach.org. Created to help bloggers "grow their blog", it looks like a promising place to get all the tips, resources and advice you could ever need to make your blog everything you want it to be. I'll be heading over there with all of my questions from now on, because I'm sure I'll be able to find the answers there. And for those of you who don't know, Baby Cheapskate is a great place to find awesome deals for the baby in your life. Check it out!

Blog Makeover

Okay, I've been thinking lately that my blog could use a makeover. For starters, a new,interesting header would be good and might spice things up a little. Unfortunately, I'm still learning the ways of blogging, designs and what not, so it may be a while before that happens. I just found out about this website, The Trendy Mommy Blog Designs and they are giving away five free blog makeovers to five lucky winners! Visit their website to enter the contest but you have to hurry - it ends tonight at midnight. In case I don't win, does anyone have any good makeover ideas for me?

Truly Moving Pictures

www.TrulyMovingPictures.org

I love to watch movies that are uplifting and inspiring (my husband calls them "Hallmark" movies.) Anytime I need a movie recommendation I like to check out "the list" over at Truly Moving Pictures. Every movie on the list is recognized by the Heartland Film Festival and some of these are winners of the Heartland Truly Moving Picture award. All of the films are heartfelt movies with uplifting messages. They are constantly updating the list and adding to it. Here are some of my favorites:

12 Angry Men
Babe
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
Finding Forrester
Les Choristes (which for some reason, I don't see on the list anymore)
Mad Hot Ballroom
Miracle

Other movies on the list that are great family films include:

The Iron Giant
Little Secrets
Millions
Ratatouille
The Secret of Roan Inish

Do you have a favorite movie that inspires you? I'd love to hear about it!