Revew: Sylvania PalPODzzz

We received the cutest ladybug light in the mail about a month and a half ago and it naturally fit into our bedtime routine since we received a nightlight turtle for Christmas. And, since the turtle was always fought over, the ladybug has offered a nice distraction.

The SYLVANIA PalPODzzz Portable Nightlight comes in ladybug form or rocketship, and is very small, plugs in and offers a small amount of light all night but also is easy to pick up with small hands to then carry around as a flashlight. You can learn a lot more about these cute bugs here on the Parent Bloggers Network site.

It's pretty durable as it's still working in our house of destructive 3-year-olds after being thrown at least twice and dropped several times.

This little bug has been such a joy to offer my girls under their covers at bedtime and has eased some of the transition problems we were having from light-on to light-off.

Review: Minted

Last year, I was one of those parents who refused to get those photo cards that everyone sends out to all of their family. I wanted to be different, fresh, unique. We're that kind of family, I had hoped. So, after attempting to do the cards myself, I realized quickly that I'm not that kind of mother. No, indeedy, I'm not. I'm the idea girl, but not the follow-through girl.

So, I ended up being one of those mothers who was in line at Target at literally the 11th hour trying to get my photo cards printed up so that I could mail them out before it was too late. In years past, we used a friend of a friend to make postcards, and those were great, but I had very little control over the process, and after the last batch went out late, I was really bummed.

This year, however, I am none of these mothers.

I am the one who has unique, fresh photo cards of her beautiful girls ALREADY printed up and just ready to be addressed and stamped. (Which reminds me ...)

Of course, it's only because I'm a blogger, more specifically a blogger with a review blog. The Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Minted cards and after one quick scan of the site, I was sold. I have not been disappointed since.

The cards are so interesting, and so fresh -- perfect for a modern family with some traditional ties to the season.

I chose this card, only because the photo I was working with wasn't the best quality nor was it what I would have envisioned. I only had two weeks and a professional photo session wasn't in the stars. So, in the end, I didn't even go as fresh and unique as I would have wanted (isn't it always the case?). But, it worked out nicely and now the cards are done.

Still, the process was super easy. The Minted staff was fabulous to work with. The editing was done well. And, the cards -- all 25 -- turned out super cute! I love them. Just check out the selection and you'll see what I'm talking about.

So, go ahead and be yourself this season, be different and daring. Try Minted. It will make you feel good.

Potty Dramas

My name is Shawn and I am a potty training failure.

Not even Once Upon a Potty can help me. Sorry Parent Bloggers Network.

So very sorry.

Once upon a potty -- a review

Confession: I have been holding out on hope that day care staff would potty train my daughters for me.

Double confession: At almost 3, they're still no where near being potty trained.

I'm starting to feel pressure. Starting to feel incompetent. Starting to feel like I've fallen down on the job.

A few months ago, I agreed to review Once Upon A Potty for the Parent Bloggers Network. I was and still am basically willing to try anything that makes this next stage easier. I'm not exactly lazy, but I do not really have an eternal amount of patience, which is what I think I need to endure potty training these two.

We've come a long way. They no longer push the potty chair around the house as if it's a vehicle or stand it in it like it's an island unto itself.

Nope.

They pretty much ignore it. Shy away from it. Run screaming from it. Hide from it. Refuse to be near it.

Sadly, as cute and wonderful as Once Upon a Potty is, nothing is working. I'm left at square one, where I believe they will get to this on their own accord.

Still, this book and CD is very cute and my girls LOVE the story and Prudence. I do believe it is helping with their education and learning. Eventually, they may even realize it could apply to them.

I read it over and over. They listen attentively, too.

And yet ... we're just now starting to see progress in moving from diapers to pull-ups -- at school. At home, we're just not there, yet. Liana has peed on the potty a few times, but Jadyn is just not even close to being ready. It doesn't help that everything with twins is tougher because they are always at odds with each other. I don't want peeing to be yet another competition between them.

Lucky for me, I know how fast things with these two can change. We might still have two full months of this year left, but in toddlerland that can be an eternity.

It's a good thing ... we might need that long.

Revew: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

Since my brother Tommy has fallen victim to the "hates to read" club since becoming a teen-ager, I've nearly made it my personal mission in life to try and inspire him to seek out interesting books and fall in love with the act of reading.

It hasn't worked.

That mission led me recently to give The Dangerous Days of Daniel X through a review copy with MotherTalk; the idea behind the book, unfortunately, is much, much better than the book itself.

The premise and purpose for the book is to inspire young boys to read (more). Nice concept, but not completely unfamiliar given the Harry Potter series, which as we all know is a hugely popular series and very well done to boot!

Daniel X, about a 15-year-old boy whose parents are killed by aliens and he becomes an alien hunter, as his parents had been. Good boy fights evil aliens -- not typically my cup of tea, I should add, but I was very open to this concept for the greater good of inspiring boys to read.

I read the first chapter and honestly felt like I must read more because it was that poorly written. I read the next four or five chapters, desperate to find a connection that I thought a boy like my brother might find in order to keep reading and I just never found it.

But, that's just my opinion. I do plan to pass it on to my brother who just might like it and prove me wrong. I will gladly follow up if that's the case since that is the who the book is targeting.

For more reviews, check out MotherTalk's page on the book. I see lots of praise from other bloggers ...

And then there was yogurt

I'm not sure how any other family could get by with two toddlers and no yogurt. I mean, seriously, there are times when I think that's all my girls are eating for a meal.

And since they started day care that one-a-day fixture has actually become bedtime routine thanks to Yoplait Kids Yogurt Smoothies (the ones with Dora on them).

I was excited to review these yogurts for The Parent Bloggers Network because, well, the only thing better than yogurt in our house is FREE yogurt.

Sure enough, this promotion led us to become pretty loyal Yoplait Smoothie buyers. The Danimals brand is good, but too small for a bedtime snack. The Stoneyfield is tasty and healthful, but too pricey.

Yoplait's version of the yogurt smoothie fits our budget and needs perfectly. Plus, we pop the straw in right throught the aluminum top to avoid spills. Now you, too, can try it at a discount by printing THIS coupon for $1.50 off.

Leave a comment here about how much yogurt your family eats (and your favorite kind) and I'll enter you to win a free Yoplait lunch box and a toddler brain tease game. Leave your comment and e-mail in the comments below before Sunday, Sept. 14 at midnight. The winner will be announced sometime next week.

CONGRATS! Heather is the winner.

A Month of Meals Easy on the Purse

Inspired by the fact that I no longer have to make my daughters lunches five days a week, and also by this post by Simple Mom, I have put together a month of meal plans for our family. I love that having themed nights helps bring a great deal of variety and order to our weekly menus. By planning for the month but shopping once a week, I'm still able to watch for sales and buy ahead.

Our themes are general to offer the most variety possible. I'm not big on repeating often, except for my favorites. Also, all of our kids meals are served with fruit and lunches are served with yogurt and dinners with a vegetable. My main goal is to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible on the weekends but still not eat out as much as possible.

Monday: Pasta
Tuesday: Stir-fry/Asian
Wednesday: Easy ethnic
Thursday: Crockpot
Friday: Fun Friday
Saturday: Easy, healthy (must take 15 minutes or less)
Sunday: A week in a day (one that stretches as leftovers such as casseroles.)

The beauty, too, of having a theme each day has helped with how I organize my online recipes. I have now created one manila folder for each theme. To plan next month's menu, I'll just pull out the folders and my cookbooks and start searching and planning with a cup of wine and a little soul food music.

The first week of this menu is not perfect because I had to make some changes due to some mistakes I made with actual planning, but it is toddler friendly and it is budget friendly and we didn't eat out once, making it a success. Check it out and please feel free to make your own menu and share it here or submit your own monthly menu in the comments.

Week One

Monday:
Cinnamon Scones and yogurt parfaits w/ fruit
Pita pizzas w/yogurt and fruit
Tuna Noodle Casserole w/peas

Tuesday:
Cereal and sausage w/fruit and zucchini bread
Deli ham, cheese, crackers, fruit and yogurt
Dump Chicken leftovers from weekend w/ edamame

Wednesday:
Pineapple French Toast w/fruit
Peanut butter and jelly, yogurt and fruit
Roasted Chicken with rice and edamame

Thursday:
Peanut butter toast w/banana
leftovers, fruit and yogurt
Pizza Pancakes

Friday:
Scrambled eggs w/ toast and fruit
Pizza pancake leftovers
Homemade pizza -- half cheese, half bbq chicken

Saturday:
Pancakes and sausage w/fruit
Chicken Salad from roasted chicken on whole wheat w/ fruit and yogurt
Salmon patties with rice and fresh squash moons

Sunday: Baked Oatmeal w/turkey bacon
Leftover pizza
Ziti with WHO bread, fruit and beans

Week Two

Monday:
Baked Oatmeal, sausage, fruit and yogurt (my first day of work!!)
Dad's in charge (Chicken salad for me)
Ziti leftovers so I can just chill with the girls

Tuesday:
Cereal and sausage w/fruit and zucchini bread (from the freezer)
Dad's in charge (Ziti leftovers for me)
Honey-glazed stir fry with rice and glazed carrots

Wednesday:
Pumpkin French Toast w/fruit (courtesy Deceptively Delicious)
Peanut butter and jelly, yogurt and fruit (Dad's still in charge)
Nana's BBQ with turkey on rolls with fruit and a salad

Thursday:
Peanut butter toast w/banana
leftovers, fruit and yogurt
Crockpot Broccoli casserole with a salad

Friday:
Scrambled eggs w/ toast and fruit
Leftover broccoli casserole
Homemade whole wheat pizza -- just cheese and pepperoni

Saturday:
Cheese frittata w/fruit and cinnamon scones
Leftover pizza
Glazed salmon with rice and green beans

Sunday:
Sunday Morning Muffins, yogurt and fresh fruit
Grilled cheese with a kick (pizza seasoning on top of opened-faced sandwiches)
Crockpot Roast with beefy onion mix, mashed potatoes and snap peas

Week Three

Monday: (Girls start daycare this week/leftovers for lunches)
Eggo Waffles, fruit and yogurt (This is one of the few breakfasts I know Liana will eat)
leftovers
Mini wagon wheel pasta and meatballs (warmed in crockpot all day on low) with three cheeses and whole wheat rolls, green beans and fruit

Tuesday:
Muffins, yogurt with wheat germ and honey and fruit
leftovers
Thai Garlic stir fry with rice

Wednesday:
French toast, fruit
leftovers
Chicken masala with rice


Thursday:
Peanut butter toast, fruit
leftovers
Turkey chili

Friday:
Waffles, fruit and sausage
leftovers
Homemade pizza or leftovers


Saturday:
Pancakes and sausage and fruit
Turkey dogs on rolls w/fruit and yogurt
Black bean, cheese quesadillas with Spanish rice

Sunday:
Cheesy hash brown casserole in crock pot
Peanut butter/Nutella sandwiches with fruit and yogurt parfaits
Pork Roast in crock pot, roasted potatoes and carrots

Week Four

Monday:
Leftover cheesy casserole
Leftovers
Pork BBQ sandwiches with leftover pork

Tuesday:
Peanut butter toast, banana
leftovers
Pineapple stir fry (found via Simple Mom)

Wednesday:
Pineapple French Toast, fruit (Courtesy Deceptively Delicious)
leftovers
Lemon lentil salad, edamame and fruit salad

Thursday:
Scrambled eggs, toast and fruit
leftovers
Easy Thai Chicken (crock pot)

Friday:
Waffles
leftovers
Thai chicken wraps (leftover chicken) with rice

Saturday:
Scones or Zucchini bread, yogurt parfaits
Grilled cheese with a kick
Turkey and carrot burgers (courtesy of Deliciously Deceptive)

Sunday:
Whole wheat waffles, fresh fruit and raspberry sauce
Tuna salad on whole wheat, fruit and yogurt
Spaghetti Pie, salad and whole wheat rolls

For more Menu Planning Monday Menus, check out Organizing Junkie's site.