Home Grown Families: August 2011

Kidlandia- Personalized Gifts for Kids Review

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Enter Kidlandia, a place of enchanted lands personalized especially for your little one. Spark your child's imagination with pirates, castles, Kreechurs, and princesses all in your child's world! These unique personalized gifts allow you to create a land made with all the names of your family!

With many options to choose from including canvases in adorable designs like this NEW Disney Cars theme :

Puzzles (GREAT homeschool idea) in 30 or 99 piece sets :

or Disney Princess Scrolls to name a few!

We had the great opportunity to review the Whimsical World map high quality poster in 30 x 20 size! I quickly purchased a poster frame and protected it from grimy little hands! It is right at their level to enjoy- they love to find all the family places around the map!

Personalization could not be an easier! For this poster, we were able to customize it with up to 25 names- we didnt leave any family out! This was a great way to help my kids be reminded of their family since we just moved 3 states away from everyone. They have had such a great time showing everyone their special place on the map when they come to visit!

From castles to forts, to islands to seas - everyone has a place. Their favorite is Grandma Ocean- they giggle everytime! You can also customize your world map with extra little creatures/animals, buildings, boats and other cute touches to make it special! You simply drag and drop.

You can find other great products to personalize for that special kid in your life. With the holidays getting closer- it is the perfect time to plan ahead and get gifts that stand out- exactly what Kidlandia Gifts do! Check out these adorable products:

Shown above from top left: Fleece Blanket $59.99, Pillowcase $24.99. Bottom left: Placemats $9.99, and Growth Charts at $49.99.

Be sure to check out the NEW Kreechurs color page app- oh yeah it's free!!

BUY IT: You can purchase a great poster like the one we picked - personalized for your family from $14.99-$34.99. Sign up for their email newsletter to grab free shipping!

For more info on Kidlandia check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer:

HGF was not paid for this post. We were provided with a product to review, and we have provided our honest opinion as mothers. Thank you to the sponsoring company for working with HGF. You can view our complete PR policies here.

Wordless Wednesday w/ Linky!!!!

I am SO excited for the opportunity to share this!! It's our new school room~ almost finished!

{I know there is a big patch of drywall, but we're not fixing it quite yet.}

Moving on. I just wanted to say that I feel like the Lord is blessing me for holding onto Him when I was going through everything trying to get a diagnosis for the twins. I didn't give into pressure to medicate them, send them to a public school or accept that they were just "low IQ" {they're not, BTW.} I never once {OK one time I did} doubted that He had a plan for them and I just needed to wait on Him. I sought godly council and enlisted others to pray for us when I couldn't anymore. He has provided a room beyond anything I could have hoped for! I hope that encourages you!

I went from this:

To this:

I am BEYOND over the moon excited for my new table!! I bought it off of Amazon with GC's I earned from blogging and my Dad contributed the other half. He's so sweet like that!

See how I used the top of the book shelf for extra storage? There are 2 more shelves like that one next to it~ with my stuff lining the top. I used it to store games and manipulates and future curriculum, mostly.

The "grates" on the walls are dismantled whatever >>> is because everyone knows those things don't work!! {Except for me when I bought it!}

I use binder clips to hold art work, etc on them and it works great!! I am so impressed with myself!! :)

Photo from Amazon

This is to the left of the table. The big brown desk is my computer desk with my wall o' stuff {I think I need one more organizer of some sort.}

See my brown cork board hiding between the two desks? That will be going up shortly as will a big dry erase board a lovely lady from church gave us.

To the right is a hanging organizer that I also got from Amazon {thanks to my friend Cassandra} that I LOVE!! I want another one for my personal papers but the price had almost doubled since I bought this one!! I am keeping my eye out for another sale! The brown cart I stumbled upon at K-Mart for $25. It has wheels so I can easily move it to where ever I need it. I use it to hold our books we use everyday and it's metal construction means it is heavy enough for school books X 2!

I LOVE my green hanging baskets, too! I got this idea from some pictures Play ay Home Mom posted on Facebook. Except, I used these for MY supplies! {They are located on the wall behind my chair.}

So, if you're still with me for this 'no where NEAR" Wordless Wednesday, thanks for stopping by!!

Make sure you link up at Woven by Words!

Image: Darren Robertson / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

MOMMY LOVES TUESDAY GIVEAWAYS

Monday, August 29, 2011

Do you love to win stuff??

Do you have a great giveaway going on?
Come over and win some free stuff or show the Linky love and link up your giveaway. Make sure you come back EVERY Tuesday!

Follow us for updated giveaways!

*Please keep everything family friendly!*

Home Grown Families is slowly transitioning to Rafflecopter for our giveaways. Fast and easy entries on almost everything so make sure you check it out!

ENDS TONIGHT!!!

I Love Lucy Tutu Giveaway 8/30

Tellurian Organic baby care products 9/3

Beanie Designs Baby knit hat 9/2

Kidorable Wooden Hanger sets 9/5

Hasbro Scrabble Alphabet Scoop game 9/10

Bumbo seat COVER 9/14

Wisharoo Park and Capezio $100 ARV Dance Pack 9/9

DelMonte 3 $25 GC and 1 backpack of supplies 9/12

TLC Woodcrafters 1 name HAND CARVED/MADE IN USA puzzle

***EARLY ENTRIES***

LINK UP YOUR GIVEAWAYS NOW!!

HASBRO-Scrabble Alphabet Scoop Game Review and Giveaway

Hasbro has always been a go to company for great toys and games for the entire family. It doesn't surprise me that there newest game was hit in this house. I present to you.......SCRABBLE ALPHABET SCOOP!

Scrabble Alphabet Scoop

Scoop, match, slam and score! Stir up your pot of letters and then take a card. Choose a word and start scooping tiles. If you’re the first to match your letters, slam on the pot’s lid to score. Mix up a fantastic batch of ALPHABET SCOOP fun!

As a homeschool mom I am always on the hunt for educational games that are fun but that can also be tied into our lessons. They don't even think it's schoolwork! This game is fast paced and great for little boys! We have been taking our time reading all the words on the card before we start, because once you start it's CRAZY!! Super fast paced!

This adorable game is for ages 6 and up, but I have been using this educational game for homeschool activities with my little ones as well- of course with complete adult supervision. Carrot Top is 3 years old, and we have used this to do letter matching with the accompanying cards. My little one (age 2) likes to stir it up and scoop the letters out into little bowls. Great for hand eye coordination!

A must have in your homeschool collection!

BUY IT: This game will not be available in stores until Fall, but it can be purchased online for $19.99! BUY HERE!

WIN IT: One HGF reader will win a Scrabble Alphabet Scoop game to add to their collection!

*Must be a HGF Google follower to participate*

ENTER BELOW USING RAFFLECOPTER

Sunday, August 28, 2011

As many of you know, pregnancy does not come easy for me. Easy to get preggo but not easy staying pregnant. I have been hesitant to share information about this pregnancy because well it's complicated. At the time, I honestly didn't want a ton of comments saying not to worry...........all I do is worry.

I am not at peace.

After delivering at 26 weeks with my last child, my Drs are treating me with great caution and keeping a very watchful eye on me. All the ultrasounds have been great, and they have not found any area of uterine dehisence like we had with the last pregnancy. I have been taking Progesterone once a week in the form of a VERY painful shot to the butt to keep my uterus calm.

Well it is not staying calm. My uterus is irritable.....kind of like me right now.

Lats night, while at work my uterus decided it would contract every 3 minutes for over an hour. I tried to hide it since I am in a very busy ER, and this was not the time to be having these shenanigans. I guess my facial expressions of worry and fear overcame my attempts to keep it hidden while I prayed they would stop. My co-worker figured it out. So, I left the hospital in an ambulance to go to another hospital. I am sure my patients were quite confused.

The monitors showed that yes indeed at 23 weeks, I was having regular contractions. Not cervical changing contractions but contractions at that. I put the nice new 20 something year old intern into a frenzy. The contractions eventually stopped after 2 bags of fluids and a shot of Breathine- which by the way is like injecting 20 espressos into your body!! My heart was going to beat out of my chest!

I now am on bedrest. No activity for me, since when I start moving around the uterus gets cranky again. I have an appt on Tuesday with the maternal fetal Drs again, and they are going to start treating me more aggressively with steroids for lung development and Procardia for the contractions. I will be sure to share pictures of the lovely swollen ankles that come along with that medication.

So that is the story of the irritable uterus.

Please pray that my uterus will be just like this at least for another few weeks................

Leaving mommy smiling too :)

Cover the BUMBO- Adorable cloth cover for your Bumbo Review and GIVEAWAY!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

If I had to write down my top 5 must have products for raising a child, this product would be on that list. Keen Distribution offers the must have itself.....the BUMBO seat!

The Bumbo seat allows baby to sit upright and take in all the scenery! As soon as baby is able to hold her head up all by herself, she can enjoy the Bumbo seat. The Bumbo seat is made out of durable low density foam which makes it soft and SUPER easy to clean down. You could literally hose this thing down- perfect for those baby blowouts!

Since the Bumbo is so lightweight, it is very portable and can be used anywhere (on the ground of course). We have used ours in our shower, in the kitchen, in the yard, and at playdates!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Thank you for joining the Friday Blog Hop hosted by myself (Melissa) at Home Grown Families and Nicole at Mama to 4 Blessings! We invite you to join us every Friday to make more blog friends!

It's very easy to join in on the fun!

Add your main blog (PLEASE DO NOT LINK UP GIVEAWAYS) link (we ask that you please follow the hostesses in the first 2 spots (Mama to 4 Blessings & Home Grown Families.) Then leave us a quick comment letting us know you are following.

Then start blog hopping!

This is a great opportunity for you to visit other blogs on the link up and comment on their blogs! When people comment on your blog please let them know that you are part of Friday Blog Hop then return the favor and follow them back! Please feel free to grab our Friday Blog Hop button and add it to your blog and spread the word!

Please only enter your MAIN blog link and please G rated links ONLY - NO CURSING please. Home Grown Families and Mama to 4 Blessings are family friendly blogs.

This week's featured guest hostess is: Create With Joy

Please also follow this week's Featured Guest Hostess: Create With Joy. Each week a new featured blogger who will be chosen at random, but you must be participate in the weekly link up - that's how we will choose a new featured blogger every week! So please come back every week & link up because you could be our next featured guest blogger!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO BID ON THE KOLCRAFT TANDEM STROLLER!!

Today is the last day to bid on the amazing new Kolcraft Contours Optima Tandem Stroller. Remember put your money to a great cause and buy through this auction instead of the store! ALL proceeds go to KIDS, a charity that helps kids in stressful disastrous situations.

BIDS ARE AT JUST $159! That is a 50% discount!!

BID HERE!!

Del Monte Teacher Monday Cash for Classrooms Giveaway WITH 3 WINNERS!!

As we all know, healthy eating is something we all need but many don't do. There are families around the world that do not instill good healthy eating practices in their children. Del Monte is here to encourage teachers in public schools to incorporate healthy eating practices into their lesson plans and encourage children to eat better.

Del Monte is celebrating their 2nd Annual Teacher Monday Cash for Classrooms by giving away $1000 to teachers making a difference! Here is a little bit about the contest:

Sixty teachers will win a total of $1,000 in cash to purchase school supplies and fresh fruit for their students. Several winners will also get a Del Monte Fresh® Field Day event for their school in which the entire student body will enjoy a day of Del Monte fresh fruit, games and fun activities.

To be eligible to win, teachers must register online, submit a short essay on how they will incorporate healthy eating and living messages into their lessonplans, then encourage all their fans to vote for them online. Ten winners will be selected each Monday for six consecutive weeks beginning October 3, 2011. Winners are based solely on the number of votes they receive. Winning teachers will receive $750 in cash to purchase school supplies and $250 in Del Monte® fresh fruit coupons for classroom fresh snacks and to use in fruit educational activities.

Winning North American schools will also be linked with schools in countries where Del Monte grows its fruit to help further the education of students by introducing them to another culture. Global schools will also receive $1,000 each for school supplies and improvements.

Become a fan of "Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms" on the Del Monte Fresh Produce Facebook and Twitter pages today to stay informed about contest news and Del Monte Fresh fruit giveaways.

So go ahead and encourage your child's teacher to sign up! Don't forget to vote for the teacher! It could make a difference in your child's school!

For the second year, we are giving away some fruits and veggies vouchers so you can promote healthy eating in your home.....and spread the news about the new teacher promotion!

Del Monte is giving 3 HGF readers $25 in Del Monte gift certificates! One of those lucky winners will also receive a backpack full of goodies to share with their child's teacher :)

SO WIN IT: 3 winners will receive $25 in fruits and veggies and one mom will win a backpack full of school supplies!

*You must be a HGF Google follower to enter to win*

ENTER BELOW USING RAFFLECOPTOR!!

HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE ALERT!!

Use code FBWANNABE to score a great 10 pack of When I grow up I wanna be unit studies! This is a $35.00 value!!

These unit studies teach kids all their is know about the profession studied! Great unit study for your homeschooler! This is a downloadable unit study.

Enjoy, and Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Keeping children safe- DID YOU KNOW?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

As a mom of almost 4, I am always reading up on ways to keep my children safe in the home. It is not easy to keep them safe everywhere we go, so I expect my home to be their "safe haven". A place where I know they can't get harmed from things I can protect them from. Here is a "Did you know?" from the Anderson Window Company.

Research has found that more than 5,000 U.S. children and teens are injured each year in falls from windows, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. Studies such as these remind us of the safety risks that often aren't considered with windows. An open window may pose a hazard to an unsupervised child and you can't rely on insect screens, blinds or other window treatments solely to protect a child from a possible injury.

Fortunately, there are devices out there now that promote the window safety message. Andersen Windows has recently come out with a wonderful new device that limits how far up a double hung window can go, limiting it to less than four inches. This product is designed to meet ICC building codes. It's quick and easy release allows for emergency escape. The window opening control devices are made for Andersen double-hung windows in 400 Series, 200 Series and A-Series product lines.

Andersen Corporation has been involved with the issue of window safety for well over a decade. The Andersen LookOut For Kids® window safety program was implemented in the mid-90s to increase awareness and educate consumers about window safety. The program includes a safety brochure and guidelines to help raise awareness of the importance of window safety among consumers and caregivers.

During the summer and fall months, when the windows around the house are more prone to be open, is the time to recognize hazards and prevent injuries. What looks "normal" to an adult may be deadly to a child.

More information about Andersen's LookOut for Kids window safety program can be found at: http://www.andersenwindows.com/lofk/mainlofk.html

Each of these locks retails for $25. Information on the device can be found at: http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/Page/awGeneral-3/1251716419235

While many of you do not own these windows, please check out this useful link from Anderson Windows on ways to prevent injury from window falls. Here is some more information on window safety- be vigilant especially with the cooler months coming our way.

Kid's Can't fly

MedicineNet guard standards

Window Guards in rental properties

Window Guard information and regulations