The Chunky Purse -- A frugal life, review blog

Minted -- A Wonderful Card Experience

2010-12-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

I was asked to review Minted again this year.

I can't say enough good things about this company. The cards are just awesome. They are thick and seem almost like a gift to send in the mail to everyone.

Given the chance to get a few for free as a trial, I chose to buy more and use these cards for our entire holiday card list. We chose a very liberal card that offers a sentiment of peace and joy rather than being overly Christmasy this year. I couldn't be happier. I'd show the card but I don't want to ruin the surpises that await my friends and family this year. What I love most is that there is a great space on the back of these cardboard cards to write a personal message to those we wish to send an added greeting to. It was great!

But, this is the card design:

I am very pleased and if you are in a crunch to get your cards done, it only took a few short days to receive ours. It was super fast.

Check out Minted for some refreshing holiday cards.

Revew: Sylvania PalPODzzz

2009-03-03T03:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-21T03:03:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-22T18:07:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Everything in moderation

2008-07-30T03:39:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for the long delay in posting here. I do have a lot to say, but perhaps I'm overwhelmed with the talk of finances right now.

As you may know, I am starting full-time work in three weeks. I do a lot of reading about being frugal, finding bargains, not spending too much, not having too much stuff, and living within your means.

And yet our -- my husband's, too -- eyeballs are bulging at the thought of all the extra money we will have. Then, we learned he is getting a very nice raise along with a bonus.

Money. Lots of money that we aren't used to having.

I do not want to blow this. I do not want to spend it all.

And yet we have many needs, and many more wants that we have deprived ourselves of for nearly two or three years.

Of course, there are definite expenses necessary like a new dishwasher because ours is leaking and it was the only thing our house inspector said we would need to replace while we owned the home. We have replaced the range and the refrigerator, but not the dishwasher.

But there are more things that are needed that we want to do for the house, for the backyard, for us.

We will restrain ourselves. We will bite our tongues and hold our wallets. We will not let this money slip away. Every dollar counts, right?

I think we've decided to use some of our extra money, immediately, for those really important things and then perhaps take the first full month with the extra money and just barely spend anything at all -- and idea I learned about recently by reading Smallnotebook blog. The author's family of three are spending only $250 non-fixed expenses this month. Nearly impossible for a house that has a commuter, but we can try to at least stick to our current budget of whatever and watch the rest earn interest.

First, we will pay off some debts that have us a bit out of whack right now due to a bad transfer decision. Bad in that the credit line wasn't enough to cover all of the debt and so now instead of one credit card with a big balance, we have three with smallish balances.

The key to wealth, I keep reminding myself, is not how much you make, but how much you save. It's not growing your income, but decreasing your expenses.

Can we do it? Can we turn this goldmine into a brighter future? That's pretty much what this blog is going to be about from here on out.

Anyone else interested in tranforming their spending habits, taking on a no-spending challenge or just learning to buy less? If so, please share in the comments and I'll add your name to the weekly check-in post.

Double Review: SavvySource/Leap Frog TAG

2008-07-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is a two-fold review of two products from Leap Frog. One, which is a remote controlled reading toy, and the other is a Web site with resources for parents of preschoolers.

The Leap Frog TAG, which you can learn more about here, is a bit advanced for my girls. However, I know it will eventually become quite a hit. We already have the first stage, the Leap Frog My First Leap Pad, which is a similiar idea to the TAG in that you can push on the images and hear the word or sound. The TAG does the same thing but with words as well. At a price of nearly $50, the TAG is pricey, but I can see it being a great car tool for any length trip as well as being something a child can easily use for some quiet time.

Nothing beats good old fashioned one-on-one learning between a child and parent or between a teacher and a student but the TAG could easily become a household supplement.

What is most promising from this review, for myself and my family, is SavvySource, a Web site that Leap Frog has designed for parents of preschoolers. The basic idea is to rate and review preschools, but it's also to help parents work with preschoolers.

You may have noticed the very large (way too large, if you ask me) sidebar ad for SavvySource quizzes. You may have thought twice about clicking on it. However, I encourage you to do so.

I did it for this review and I have returned to it several times and not for the review. First, you register and then take quizzes (they aren't too long, but they are detailed) about your child's progress. You can answer the questions for each child separately, which could be time consuming if you have a few young ones.

I've never felt the quizzes made my daughters seem less bright in any areas even though they have scored rather high on all of those quizzes, thus far. There are certain things they haven't gotten to, yet, but I'm sure it's just their age and natural learning curve. I've taken the language development, music and arts quizzes. I took another one but by not logging in first, my work was lost. Bummer. So, register and sign in first!!

So, since I've learned we mostly on target for all areas, which include language development, spacial awareness, visual arts, science, music and social skills, I have just enjoyed learning. After the quiz, you are automatically directed to a list of toys and activities ranging in price that would help with those particular skills. Be sure to scan the list for the FREE activities. Or, just go to the Activities tab at the top and search by the category. The activities are written by parents, and you are free to add your own as well.

Some of the fun ones we tried were:

Body painting: which you can see the results of here.

Water bottle fun: Why I hadn't thought of this sooner is beyond me. Well, I had in that I had two bottles out for them to help me with spraying the wallpaper for removal. But, to take those same bottles outside and let them have at it with all the plants and trees was literally brilliant. They were doing this over the weekend by spraying a balloon held by Dad, too, and it made great target practice for hand-eye coordination. Plus, the sound was incredible!

Circles in the sand: We did a variation of this and it, too, was a huge hit. I used baking pans and they spent a long time drawing in it. Then, they started using their feet to draw in the sand. By the end, as if I need to actually write it, they were sitting in the sand on the pans. Very easy clean up, too. I love those for just an average day.

Backyard Boogie: We didn't really dance because taking music outside is nearly impossible at our house since we don't have a portable player. However, we took our musical instruments outside and did our shaker game/dance and that was a real blast. Something about being outside in the fresh air and getting jiggy with it was out of the ordinary fun.

There are literally hundreds more I want to do including these few: Sticker tag (yup, the game you know and love from your childhood but using stickers), homemade sprinklers, backyard camping with our tent, bicycle wash, treasure hunt in the yard and Monkey See, Monkey Do dancing.

Since doing activities is part of my whole motherhood gig, this site has been such a refreshing find. Everything you've ever wanted to do with your toddler and more -- in one location. I plan to add my own ideas to it soon.

All in all, I think Leap Frog is on to something with it's attempts to help young children learn and develop. These products, the TAG and SavvySource, are just two more additions to what is already a pretty solid line of products.

Now, I have to refer this program to five other bloggers. Let me know if you might be interested.

Also, a disclaimer: By writing this review, I will be receiving an honorarium as well as possible CPM earnings.

Review: Baby Bug Magazine

2008-06-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

When our daughters turned one their grandmother bought them a subscription to Animal Baby magazine and it quickly became a welcomed surprise in the mail once a month. And, it still is as we continue to read it faithfully.

But then Baby Bug Magazine came along. These are easily the cutest magazines for toddlers. Each issue has a theme and each page offers not just reading material in the way of poems, rhymes, songs but also activities and movements.

Every issue makes me think that all young moms should automatically get this as a shower gift. Each magazine is wrapped in a cover that offers interesting ways to interact with your child while reading and not reading that month's issue.

I've picked up subtle hints for making daily chores a bit more fun by reading this magazine. I was always very good at child-centered activities, but still struggle with adult-centered activities made fun for toddlers. Perhaps because those often turn to chaos at our house. But, simple things like letting the toddler push the laundry basket as if it's a "laundry express" are stacked in each issue. So, it's a book, a monthly mailing and an activities guide all in one. Not bad for $34 a year for nine issues.

The same characters of the stories show up in each issue making them a consistent familiar face for my daughters.

I can't rave anymore about these little magazines. If you know a one or two year old and can't think of a present to give, a subscription would be perfect.

For more reviews, check out The Parent Bloggers Network.

Review: Sesame Place!!!

2008-06-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that we don't allow the girls to watch TV. But, despite my attempts to prevent them from turning into commercialized beings, they still learned to love Elmo. That's why we were excited for the opportunity to go to Sesame Place and meet Elmo in person as part of a review team for The Parent Bloggers Network.

See Elmo we did and, frankly, he didn't do much impressing among our set.

The park, on a whole, did not work out for us. We were granted free tickets for media day, which was also the day -- I learned later -- that general admission offered bring a friend promotion.

In other words, it was mobbed. We arrived to the park at 10:15 a.m., which might have been a great time except we had to wait to park for about a half hour.

Do you know what it's like to wait in a long, hot line of cars with two 2 year olds?

Then, finally with tickets in hand, guess what we had to do for another half hour? Yup, wait in a long hot line of people. With two 2 year olds.

Can you say cranky before entering an amusement park? Yes, I was.

So, after a 2 hour drive, an hour long wait we were finally inside the great home of Elmo.

And the girls wanted nothing to do with him. Most of the rides that we came across were too much for them. We never even found Elmo's World, despite the fact that we thought we had since, well, that's where Elmo was standing for pictures.

We were inside for one hour before it was lunchtime.

All in all, our experience was not pleasant and a lifetime would be too soon for me to return. But, then again, I'm not into commercialized spaces and events. I'm just not. And, by the looks of our girls after we left, they aren't either.

However, to balance out this review, I'm lucky enough to know that our experience was just ours. That other people, including my friend Deanna and her husband and twin boys, were able to go on a Monday, where no lines were found, and had a great time. She even sent this picture as proof:

Deanna wrote in her email: "We got to see a live show of Elmo's world, they "played" Elmo's piano, rode rides, did the water park and at the end of the day we got to see a parade with all the monsters! While waiting for the parade to start we sat on the curb close to a locked trash can and Logan kept looking for Oscar in this trash can, he thought Oscar was in there (he wasn't), so we told him Oscar was sleeping..."

So, I think the bottom line is to make sure you choose a day that isn't connected to some big promotion to avoid the lines and plan to arrive extra early, just in case, so that you spend more time inside the park than out. Also, get ready to get wet since most of the park is a water park.

But, to be very honest since this is a frugal-living review blog ... I think it is ridiculous that Sesame Place charges the same for an adult and a 2 year old since most of the activities are for the older crowd. However, my friends' who went and enjoyed their day argued that buying the 2-day pass, which is the same amount, is a good option since that second day pass doesn't have to be used consecutively. In other words, you could return later in the same summer. So, that's a good tip for those of you whose children actually watch Sesame Street and know all of the characters.

I do want to commend the person who played Ernie. He made our little Liana's day. He was charming. And sweet. And awesome with kids.

The Monster Maze was pretty fun for our family:

And, Bert was nice, too. He's actually hugging Liana here, but Dan got some Bert action, too.

It was a good experience to learn now that we can probably avoid such events in the future because we are just not that kind of family. Not all families are into long lines, crowds and adventure on a hot, summer weekend. I think lazy picnics next to the ocean is more my speed. Then, the only waiting I'll be doing is for taffy or French fries. I am grateful to have had this experience so thanks to Parent Bloggers for offering this to my family.

Printable Coupon Resource!

2008-06-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

I've wondered why something like this wasn't done sooner so props to the shopper who spent the time on Slickdeals. Here's an alphabetical printable coupon list for all your grocery needs. Enjoy! And, if you haven't familiarized yourself with Slickdeals, thank me later. You may get hooked.

Feel the love; visit your library

2008-06-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

Carrie Bradshaw's character swoons over The New York Public Library much the way I swoon over our city library even though it is much smaller and less fabulous looking.

Regardless, never a day goes by that I do not leave the library smiling and happy.

Why? Because it fills a need within my soul to hold new books, movies and compact disks. Like, now! Like, yesterday!

I've been rocking the library card my whole life but never more than the last year.

When I get the urge to splurge, I whip out my library card, which I keep under my desktop keyboard in case of emergency. Spending emergencies, that is. And, while I do so, I'm teaching my daughters a basic love for reading and books.

Here's 8 Ways to Love the Library:

1. Don't browse: I am not kidding here. You should never have to go browsing in your library ever again, especially if you have crazy toddlers like I do. Instead, go online and open two windows on your desktop: Your Amazon wish list page and your public library on another. Ready. Set. Shop. More times than not those amazing books you are drooling over are sitting idly by at your local library. Why wait for extra cash when you can read them right now -- for free? There is no limit to how many items you can reserve. More often then not, I never need to buy the book after I read it once.

2. Pick a day and show up: There's never a wrong time to visit the library except when it's closed of course. Go alone. With your partner. With the kids. You can even host a quiet play date there. And, while you're there, grab those books real quick that are on hold in your name. I don't even take my library card with me as it's usually on the hold request card.

3. Always reserve a CD with books: Libraries are my best friend when it comes to children's music I'm not sure about. Since I'm a relatively new mom and want the best music I can find that won't bore me to tears, I check out new stuff often at the library. If I love it, I upload it to my computer and burn a disk later. If I hate it, I return it happily I didn't spend even .89 cents for a download.

4. Resources galore: You can call your local librarian and ask anything anytime and usually get an answer quickly. Anything at all. Go ahead and try it and email me your results or leave them in the comments below. I dare you. No, I double dog dare you.

5. Eliminate your boredom quota: Yes, I mean you -- the parent. Go ahead and sign your kids up for the summer reading challenge, but sign yourself up as well. Challenge yourself to finally read War and Peace or Anna Karenina. It's the library -- not the Peabody. Or, take a class -- most are free. Have fun with it. It's there waiting for you and not expecting an ounce in return. Well, except a late fee here or there.

6. Fun activities for kids: I'm not up on all libraries in the country, but I'm pretty certain most have great family-friendly activities available most days of the week. Register for a class and go. They are free. Enough said. In fact, the library is a toddler's best friend. Plus, it's never wrong to make reading a central part of your child's day.

7. Life lessons: Like I said, I have crazy toddlers who actually believe the library is F-U-N. Ours has a nice playhouse and colorful trees and the best darn walking ramp this side of the Mason Dixon. Yes, they run up and down like fools. I used to cringe, but I realized that as long as they aren't out of hand they are learning a valuable lesson: the library is a cool place to hang. You can never spend too much time in one. Never. Sure, I dream of days when we can sit quietly and read but I'm not dumb ... I grab a few books while I'm there and read to them later.

8. Stay connected: Maybe you have wanted to learn to write. Maybe you need a job. The library can help. Check out the bulletin boards, the flyers out front and ask the staff. I rarely leave the library without learning at least one thing. Hmm. Ironic, huh?

Review: Maiden America

2008-05-29T05:16:00.001-07:00

I recently jumped at a chance to review some hair barrettes that the company touts as being non-slipping.

I happen to have two young girls who like to pull their barrettes out so I found this to be a personal challenge.

And, you know what?

These barrettes are now the only barrettes I will buy. Seriously. They rock. I can put them in both girls' hair and they will stay there because one attempt (or more) at pulling them out doesn't work and they quickly give up.

The colors and styles are amazing and just adorable. I love all the ones with bling. We chose these and these as well as some others.

If you have a niece or daughter with fine hair, these would make great gifts. Or, if you have fine hair yourself, which I do, these are great for adults, too.

Check out Maiden America here and more reviews at The Parent Bloggers Network.

Managing as a one-car family

2008-05-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

There's always tons of information on how to survive on one income, but very little on how to survive with just one car -- another great way to save money, especially these days as gas prices continue to rise.

We've successfully survived with one car for a year and a half. It's not been easy. Some weeks have been harder than others. But, despite the compromises, it's been a great way to keep the girls at home for the first years of their life.

Besides the monthly payment and insurance, I estimate that we saved about $4,000 a year by owning just one car. And, by doing so, we also saved another $3,000 by paying off our other vehicle, and avoiding using it much as well.

Here's 5 Ways to Manage as a One Car Family:

1. COMMUTE: There are still very few options for families in the commuting world, but it is possible in many smaller communities, including our third-class city. A bus service from our town to the capitol helped my husband get to work and back three or four days a week for about a year. This option is not for the weak. He had to get up early and got home late since the bus added another hour and a half to his commute time. The benefit, though, was that I was able to use the car. Now, he shares the driving with a co-worker and the schedule is better over all.

2. LEARN TO LOVE WALKING: I've always enjoyed walking, but since becoming a mom I love it more than ever. The days I do not have wheels are often the days I can walk to the farmer's markets, or the used book store or the library. I think of these walks as our outings for the day, as well as a form of exercise. I happen to be able to run errands, too, but that isn't necessarily the purpose. You don't have to live in a city to walk. You just have to be able to walk and a stroller to push, if you have young kids. Each day I try and find a new place to visit on our walks, too, which keeps it interesting for all of us.

3. SCHEDULE AND COMPROMISE: Discussion is important when scheduling who gets the car which days of the week. Both parties need to be aware of what the other person's needs and schedules are each week. When I decided I'd rather have the car Thursdays to go to the park with other moms, my husband was open to switching days. When he has a meeting on Thursday and needs the car, I have to manage. It's never easy, but it's always possible.

4. COMBINE ACTIVITIES: Drop the husband and kids off at the park and hit the closest grocery store. Pick up stamps while on the way to the library. With gas being as costly as it is now, none of us can afford to run single errands anymore. Lucky for us, we've been preparing since we only have one car and limited time. We still have a lot of work to do in this area of one-car living.

5. ENTERTAIN AT HOME: The days I do not have a car are perfect opportunities to invite other moms and their children over for play dates. The best friends in my life right now invite themselves over on Tuesdays -- the day I never have a car. After all, it is nice to hang out at home some days, too, even with young twins.

How about you? How do you manage with just one car? Any tricks to share?

Review: Tao of Fertility

2008-05-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

When we were trying to have a baby -- ahem, just one thank you very much -- we were willing to try just about anything.

Since failure to ovulate was my main issue -- cause unknown -- I tried some changes to diet as well as acupuncture all laid out by The Infertility Cure, a book that uses eastern medicine to try and influence our reproductive cycles.

The latest book on this topic is now out: The Tao of Fertility, which is very similar and worth reading if you are at all affected by infertility -- a gut wrenching experience too many women are dealing with these days.

Since I do not have time to give you an indepth look into eastern medicine and infertility, pick up the book if it interests you.

For more reviews of this book, go to the Parent Bloggers Network.

From Amazon: "An esteemed doctor who has helped countless women achieve their dream of having a child offers his program for enhancing fertility through traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)."

It offers:
* A questionnaire assessing fertility potential
* A 28-day fertility enhancement program
* Simple meditations and acupressure points to improve reproductive circulation and relaxation
* Guidelines for mapping your fertility using Chinese methods of diagnosis
* Information on how herbs and acupuncture can increase fertility
* Eating plans for pregnancy, postpartum, and while breast-feeding.
* and much more

Review: Kinzin (AKA my new favorite thing)

2008-05-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

When I first got my digital camera and used it my daughters were just born. I've been overwhelmed ever since about how to manage all of the pictures I take, how to choose which ones to send along and, most importantly, how to print the images and send them off to various relatives around the country.

Welcome, Kinzin.

If you are at all a procrastinator about printing photos and mailing them to the inlaws or the outlaws or to the millions of cousins in your life, you might find Kinzin, a free family Web site, a relief.

Each month, I upload my favorite photos to Kinzin of each of my girls (or both). I love that each child gets their own page. Think Facebook, but for your kids, basically. I can upload her photos as well as her likes and dislikes and favorite things as well as a wish list, which will soon come in handy, I"m sure.

Then, at the top of each month, Kinzin will print copies of the 10 most recent photos and mail them to the recipients I have requested. Now, normally this service is $2.99 per mailing address, but as a reviewer I get a free subscription for the year. I know, lucky me, right? Kinzin also gives you one free mailing address for every two that you pay for, which isn't too bad.

After just a month I can tell that this service would be money well spent. First, less printer ink and photo paper to buy (Can I get an Amen?). Second, we scored big points having the first round of photos show up in all of the 'rents mailboxes the weekend of Mother's Day. Third, I no longer have to feel guilty for not printing and mailing the latest and greatest photos. It's done. Finally, no more having to wait to buy another color cartridge to print for those birthday cards and special holidays.

My mom reported that her photos were beautiful and looked great, though I haven't seen copies of those myself. Next time I plan to add titles to the photos, a special feature that is new to Kinzin.

With my mom in Georgia, my grandmother in Maryland and my in-laws just around the corner but hardly heard from, Kinzin has created a special connection after just one month. I could hear the happiness in their voices. So what if I didn't get around to making this many photos in all of the first two years?

I'll make up for it now.

Check out Kinzin reviews at The Parent Bloggers Network.

You should, too.

Review: Were you raised by wolves?

2008-05-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

There are some young adults who leave home after high school and just get what life is all about. Perhaps their parents gave them a lot of information. Perhaps they had a better education.

I was not one of those people.

This book, "Were You Raised by Wolves? Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood," by Christie Mellor, would have done wonders for me.

It's just about everything I've wanted to pass along to my brother but haven't. So, he'll get this book instead. Maybe even next week for his 17th birthday.

Everything from what not to put in an email to how saving money instead of spending it can lead to wealth.

I love statements like these hidden in the back:

"Sunscreen and cocktails: one I should have used more, the other less."

"I would have liked to have known that I really didn't know anything."

Check out what others are saying at The Parent Bloggers Network.

Review: That Baby CD/DVD

2008-05-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

Desperate for a little peace this week, I ended our Unplugged challenge after nearly two weeks of absolutely no TV for the girls.

I did so knowing full well that I wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt about it because I popped in That Baby DVD, a sweet video full of music and images of kids playing.

We've been listening to the songs on the CD in the car for a month now. I love it and so do the girls. In fact, they sang their first song -- real words and all -- to this CD (Three Little Birds).

Best part for me is that I could listen to these songs all day, which is basically my reason for picking the music we listen to around here. I have been downloading and making CDs to enjoy throughout the day because it makes me a happier person to have something in the background that makes me smile. Plus, I do think quality music helps keep us all more peaceful and happy. On the contrary, we have a toddler songs CD that does just the opposite.

We've been listening to Elizabeth Mitchell a lot and if you dig her then you will love this, too.

The reason I feel no guilt is because these video images move very slowly, which can be the real problem with most shows, including Sesame Street.

I also love the history of the company and truly believe they have many of the same ideas about what television viewing should be for a child. A little learning, a lot of entertainment but nothing corny or terrifying for me as a mother.

Check out the video on their site and listen to a few songs if you can and decide for yourself. But, if you are in the market for some good children's music, you really should not pass this up.

For more reviews about this set, check out MotherTalk.

Review: Mama Rock's Rules

2008-05-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

First, let me just say that there is one single problem with where I live -- and probably where all of you live as well.

The Parents.

They are terrible. Well, not all of them, but certainly many of them. It drives me crazy. The kids are disrespectful, loud and obnoxious. And their parents are just glad to get them out of their hair for a while.

Enter Mama Rock's Rules. Chris Rock's mother, Rose Rock, uses a high-energy tone of writing to tap into what your doing now and how that might affect the future. One example of this is letting your toddler hit you because it's cute.

I wish I could give a copy of this book to every mother and father within a mile of my house. Would that be rude?

But, seriously, there are many parents who need to hear things like, "you're the parent, not the friend."

Truthfully, this really is a general audience parenting book that would serve struggling parents well by helping them understand how their current actions affect their child's future.

I do plan to leave a copy of mine with a local non-profit to loan out to their parents. I suggest you do the same.

For more reviews about this book, check out The Parent Bloggers Network.

Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle.

2008-04-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

There is cause to have an extra special day today. We just might finally have a Democratic presidential nominee, it's Earth Day and this week is Turn TV Off Week (or something like that).

And, at our house, we are trying to celebrate all three without jeopardizing all of them. We do have some TV exceptions (American Idol/election results) for the adults. And, I may make another (Planet Earth DVD) for the tots if it's raining outside.

Here are some of the things we are going to do today to celebrate this momentous intersection of celebrating life today. As I learned from Preschool Mama, one of my new favorite blogs, it would be fun to mix things up a bit today. We're going to try and do things a bit differently today.

These are all frugal and green activities and games to help us realize the importance of listening to others, respecting our planet and loving each other compassionately.

I set up our days at home like preschool, with blocks of physical play followed by blocks of calm play, and so today will be no different in that regard. And, of course, we will walk to the farmer's market to buy some organic fruits and vegetables.

1. We're going to take our typical art and music activities either outside if it's nice or upstairs to another room for a change of pace. We also might do art with music today to really give it a twist. I'll pick fast songs; then slower songs.

2. We're going to do one activity that brings us closer to nature. My hope is that we'll play hide and seek with a stuffed animal -- outside. I want to hide; let them find it.

3. We're hopefully going to play a game of stop and go or walk and stop, depending on the mood. This is something I think is a good, fun way to teach them to listen better.

4. We're going to look at our family globe and spin it and I'll sing my favorite Unitarian Universalist song:

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

5. Finally, we will make cards today to send to some family and friends who are in need of a pick-me-up or just a simple hello.

And, on a personal note, a little research for work led me to this conclusion: that I need to take a few minutes each day to just do nothing, to be still and quiet; to respect myself and Mother Earth. Doing nothing is much easier than scolding myself, again, for not meditating. And, ultimately, sitting quietly leads to meditation, I've learned. So, I will take this time today as well.

Mama-Stay

Review: Your Baby Can Read

2008-04-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Reading is the most enjoyable part of our day. Well, mostly. Not when my twin daughters fight over who gets to turn the page or what book we'll read. But when they really get into a story and laugh and point at the pictures, it's perfect and just how I envisioned my days as a Mama.

So, when I was asked by the Parent Bloggers Network to review Your Baby Can Read Starter DVD and Volume 1 DVD I was pretty excited at the concept. I still am, but can't say that my daughters can read now after watching the videos. They cannot.

Still, this DVD set -- and I received the entire set -- is intriguing.

I remember well my teacher friends putting index cards all over their houses labeling everyday objects like door, window and chair. I knew they saw the value of children seeing the words with the objects to spark early reading. And, as soon as I get my act together I fully intend to do the same thing.

Your Baby Can Read videos are kind of the same thing except it uses the television as the medium to try and teach babies to read. The videos were not the most popular in our house, but at this age not many are going to be. They did watch it a few times and liked the animals they saw at the zoo.

I, personally, felt like the images and words should have been together on the video more than they were. And, the pace seemed a little fast.

But, I am no expert. If I had these videos when the girls were younger I would have used them more because I do feel they would help, especially with word recognition and language development. I limit television in our house to one half-hour video per day or 10 minutes of Elmo on Sesame Street. Unless I'm desperate and it's raining outside. Then they can watch a little more than that, but not much more.

Perhaps we didn't watch the videos enough and that's why I don't see any signs that they would work. Then again, I'm not sure a video should teach a child to read. That's my job as a parent.

But, these videos are certainly interesting, especially if you're looking for some interesting videos besides Baby Einstein. And they would most certainly be better than an hour of Sesame Street, at least for a baby under 2.

What I will RAVE about, though, are the flash cards that came with the set. These sliding word cards, with a word on front and another on the back, open up to reveal the word's image in real life photos. They are so wonderful that for Easter my girls grandmother bought them the entire set. In fact, check out this video of a 25-month-old girl reading. I do not doubt these cards will help if used often and sparingly -- like a handful at a time for a couple weeks. Then move on to the next handful, etc.

My girls love, love, love these cards and I have to admit they are really special. Much more special than index cards. They are fun to play with and learn with and I can see these helping teach my girls word recognition easily -- when we aren't so busy, you know, throwing tantrums and such.

Check out the site and see if it's something you or a friend might be into, but definitely consider ordering the flash cards. I'd be curious to know if any of you try it out so please report back to me if you do.

Thank you for visiting today.

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What's for lunch? (the Most important post of my career)

2008-04-08T15:45:00.001-07:00

Whether you are a working mom, a work-at-home mom or a stay-at-home mom and on a budget then there is no doubt in my mind that many of you have to deal with the dreaded decisions about what to give The Husband for lunch.

We haven't bought out for lunches in years. Well, not much anyway. And my husband has been a real trooper because I've never been a great lunch planner. This resulted in last minute scurries to fix his lunch that would often leave him with very little time to run out the door.

So, a couple months ago I vowed to start making his lunch for him. That lasted two weeks. Then I fell into the Lunch Rut.

Mostly, he gets leftovers because that is the easiest thing for both of us. They go into a lunch box-friendly container and he can pop that and other things into his bag. This is the most frugal and earth-conscious decision we can make. But we do not always have leftovers, which can pose a problem.

Sometimes, I buy specific lunch stuff, like deli meat, but I hate making sandwiches so they have been left for him to make. And, that isn't budget- or eco-friendly.

Frugal and convenient do not DO NOT go well together. This I know.

But, recently, I have stumbled upon some great posts about the tried-and-true favorite: Peanut Butter and Jelly.

We eat this a few times a week for lunch because it's a no-fail lunch for the girls, and I enjoy it, too. It's easy to whip up even with fussy toddlers doing things that cause a million interruptions. No-fail is very important for lunch at our house. It's the girls' biggest meal, usually.

Back to those sandwiches and why now I'm thinking of returning to this old faithful when leftovers are not possible.

1. Check out The Peanut Butter and Jelly Campaign, which gives step by step reasons for why this sandwich is best for the environment. Now, if allergies are a concern, there are alternatives listed. And, it appears peanut butter may also help those wanting to lose a few pounds as well.

2. Clever Dude is more than clever to come up with this assembly line method for making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches even easier! His wife, Clever Dudette, wrote another awesome post with some other options as well.

3. If you're like me, you might get a bit tired of the same thing every single day. So, here are a few links to some new twists on PB&J.

The Epicurean

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast Sticks (Yum-O!)

Of course, PB&J doesn't have to come in just sandwich form, though that is easiest for lunch boxes. Try muffins for breakfast, too.

Speaking of frugal cooking ...

2008-04-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

I plan to participate in The Frugal Cooking Carnival on April 25th. It's a challenge, and I'm always up for those. Check it out. Perhaps we'll get some new ideas and recipes to bring these grocery budgets down!

Anybody else interested?

Meal Planning Craziness

2008-04-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

After weeks upon weeks of couponing, watching for bargains and deals, I've come to a drastic conclusion: Simplicity is best.

Free or almost free things are great and I'm all about hopping on them when they are easy to get since they help tremendously. But, I also realize that there is a better way to life than spending all day Sunday cutting coupons, reading sales fliers and creating lists -- and shopping!

Over the course of the last few weeks, I've created a series of menu plans we can easily adopt each week during the month. I will shop once a week.

I first wrote down what we tend to eat each week since most of the same meals are made, especially for breakfast and lunch. After seeing it all in a Word document, I started seeing some common denominators and by cutting and pasting many things around, I found that I can easily make two or three meals using many of the same ingredients. That's a no-brainer way to shop, save money and use up everything in one week, I think.

My rational is to mix one super easy meal and super cheap meal with a variety of other dishes that are vegetarian, a meat-dish and a pasta dish. One or two meals should have enough leftovers for another night, and we should be able to get a lunch or two out of at least one or two as well.

I added it all up -- including one protein per meal for everyone and a snack of homemade muffins and cheese sticks, one gallon of milk a week, two dozen eggs (in case I bake something) yogurt, cheese, three loaves of bread (for our favorite French toast and sandwiches. There is no way I could feed two toddlers, healthfully, seven days a week on just $40/week. But, I can keep it under $65. That means $30 for those breakfast meals, $10 for lunches and $20 for dinners. Since breakfast is the more costly item, and one that I feel is most important, that takes half the budget for the week. If I find something cheaper to supplement another meal for next month, that's what I'll do.

I'm using a meal planning document found on this post at The Unclutterer, which I think is a great Web site and has really got me thinking differently about the negative aspects in my life (like clutter) and just trying to do too much, like always trying a new recipe.

I feel confident that I have found my groove with the best meals to make that work for all of us. There are some differences, but for the most part it will work well this way.

Once I start making more things by hand, such as these ideas, I think I'll see the budget decrease a little.

For now, I will be happy if I can stick to $65/week for my groceries.

How about you? How much do you spend? Does it include everything or just food?

ORGANIZATION 911: Paper-items

2008-03-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Papers, books and magazines, OH MY.

Seriously, this girl needs some help. I know plastic is not the best to buy, but the more of those big plastic bins I have the better off I am, I think.

How about you? Any eco-friendly, budget-friendly organizational methods or tools to share?

I feel like once I find a home for one little thing, another 12 pop up and they are all lying in a pile on the counter or on my bed or next to my bed, lost with no where to go and rest. Poor things.

Of course, perhaps the best method is to not have these things ... yes, that is true. But, I have them already. I'm a writer. These things happen. I'm working on it.

I am.

Really.

Until then ... a girl needs options.

Thoughts? Ideas? Have any great makeovers of a closet or home office to share? Let me know. Please.

Green is the new Black

2008-03-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

It really seems that the eco-friendly movement is hitting the mainstream, finally. This means that just about everywhere we turn there is yet another thing to think about in terms of protecting our kids, ourselves and our environment.

There is no shortage of information on "green living" online and in the bookstores, too. Magazines are making it more and more mainstream as well.

It's hard not to think about its importance. I have allergies badly enough to get infections and most of that is due to environmental conditions worsening, particular in our area of the Mid-Atlantic.

So when MotherTalk recently invited me to read and review a new book, Healthy Child, Healthy World I jumped at the chance, especially since introducing this new Review Blog and its concept.

Unfortunately, I only had the book about a week and in mother time that is like a blip on the time spectrum. Therefore, I didn't get to spend as much time with it as I would have liked before being given today as the day to publish my review.

Regardless, it's an easy review. If you are pregnant, or just plain new (as in living under a rock) to eco-living this book is for you. This book has a great introduction to all things environmentally friendly, specifically cleaning solutions, no or low VOC paint for baby nurseries and food.

Here are my Top 3 favorite parts of the book:

1. Easy, budget-friendly cleaners
2. Eco-friendly gardening and yards
3. Resources for everything, including safe art supplies.

To buy the book, go here. Learn more about the Healthy Child Healthy World organization here. And, of course, for more reviews about this book and others check out MotherTalk.

Cutting food costs

2008-03-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Just about everyone I know is trying to find ways to cut down on food costs because of inflation. With worries over the economy growing more dire, it's important to prepare now for a worse situation.

We've been successful eating healthy while cutting our grocery bill way back by using coupons, shopping smart and eliminating most unnecessary purchases, which includes pre-packaged foods.

But, I know we have a lot of room to go because my idea of pre-packaged foods was too narrow. In fact, even without buying many prepared foods, I still am buying many "made for me" foods like peanut butter, yogurt and oatmeal.

This blog post opened my eyes to this fact and now I'm planning to start making my own peanut butter and oatmeal, with the hopes of cutting costs and eating healthier.

How about you? Have any pre-packaged foods you'd like to try and wean yourself off of in the near future?

Toys, toys and more toys

2008-03-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

I will admit, for someone who feels we don't need much stuff and for someone who finds toys to be pretty much useless except for during play dates ... we have a ton of toys. Of course, there was a time in my life as a twin mom when I thought rough days could be answered by new toys or more toys. Of course, I was seriously off my rocker when I thought that.

The bulk of our toys were gifts or were picked up at second-hand stores and yard sales. In fact, we have probably spent less than $150 total in two years on actual toys ourselves.

But, we are overwhelmed.

I plan to donate just about all of them that aren't being used regularly before we move. I'll give them to another mom or send them to the homeless shelter's economy store.

But, something we did recently with a friend has been a great help. We did a toy swap. We each boxed up some toys and swapped them for a while. We haven't set a time to swap back, but it worked great because the girls like playing with these new toys, at least for a while.

Another idea that has been mentioned to me by Bella, actually, was to use online gear swapping sites, which I assume are a lot like exchanging paperback books.

Do you use these sites? How much luck have you had? Is it easy to do? What about shipping costs? Do you find what you are looking for or just make due with what's on the site? Leave links in the comments.

You might also check out Zwaggle. This post is a part of a blog blast hosted by The Parent Bloggers Network. Everyone (including you!) who signs up for Zwaggle with this invitation link will get extra Zwaggle points - or zoints - to use toward their first Zwaggle transaction.

Whistle ... what?

2008-03-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

At our house, the love of language is important. So much so that I worry we will miss the boat on teaching math and science enough.

But, words. Words!

We love them. I love to shout them. My husband loves to pull out the long, complicated ones.

He is an editor. We met in a newsroom. We meet somewhere at the intersection of writing and reading.

And, yet, neither of us speak a foreign language. This does not mean we didn't try. We both did. He learned basic French. I learned basic Spanish. I've actually used some of mine for work, but have always known I am far insecure to use it efficiently. To learn a language, I've known, you really have to be living among it day in and day out.

Since neither of us know a language well enough to teach one, I've worried Jadyn and Liana will end up saying this statement as much as I have: "Yo hablo Espanol un poco."

We really want them to be fluent in at least one other language.

Enter: Whistlefritz, a Spanish-immersion DVD set for young children that I'm reviewing for The Parent Bloggers Network. This is my first official review with Parent Bloggers.

It's a company based in Maryland and was created by Mom Heidi Stock, who also wanted to teach her children to speak Spanish. Studies show that introducing a foreign language to children between the ages of 2 and 5 increases a child's ability to speak without an accent later on in life. The videos, geared to that age group, are in all Spanish. In fact, translation is forbidden, according to the list of tips that came along with my packet. I had no idea!

(And, it's really hard not to translate, by the way).

And, you know what? After watching these videos REPEATEDLY for the last month, I can attest that these videos will work.

Here's my review in a nutshell: These videos have taken TV-watching to a whole new level in our house.

Out of the two DVDs, we've watched Los Animales the most. It was the first one we popped in and it was so popular among Jadyn and Liana that Baby Einstein quickly became just dusty jackets.

Los Animales continues to be the most popular object in our house and so, while the other one is good, too, I will rave about Los Animales. Maria, the host is endearing and not at all annoying. The show offers everything from cute puppets to funny skits. I have learned more Spanish watching these than I did in my college course. They are just plain fun.

In fact, Jadyn tells me she wants to watch it by coming into the kitchen where she roars like a lion, quacks like a duck, and sprays raspberries like an elephant. And, the second the show begins, Liana runs to the playroom to grab two maracas to play music along with Maria and the children.

The best thing is that they clearly know what is happening even though not one word of the entire movie is in English. It's all Spanish. And they get it. They laugh and talk along and even repeat the Spanish words that they like most.

As for Vamos a Jugar (Let's Play): It's very good, too, but the title is a little off because it's really about teaching body parts. The overall tone is a little slower paced than Los Animales and I don't think we've watched this one to the end, yet. Jadyn and Liana do like to talk about body parts, though, so I can see this being more popular as they grow older.

If you believe in the power of language and raising a bilingual speaker, definitely buy one of these videos and check them out. So, yeah, BUY IT and then donate it to someone else you know or a local preschool near your home.

Well, if yours lasts that long. Ours is skipping already.

Welcome to The Chunky Purse

2008-02-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

Lately, money has taken over my life and that of many others who I know. It seems we're not alone in feeling like we never have enough.

At the same time, many of us are trying to reduce our family's eco-footprint as well as take the consumerism out of our household. This means very little TV, and less junk.

It's a fine line, but it all goes back to having a "Chunky Purse' filled with extra cash and things that we love and cherish and are willing to bring out and share.

Recently, I have been offered many products and books to review, which I find to be a ton of fun and when there is no extra cash for fun things, it's nice. Very nice. So, I decided it was time to start a review blog that will focus on all things frugal as well as reviews.

But, I want this review blog to be different. Sure, there are many, many cool things we could buy for our kids, but should we?

My reviews will stand out among the crowd because each review will conclude with one of these ratings: Buy it, Borrow it, Skip it or Splurge!

I will take everything into account: Whether I like it or my my twin daughters like it, how much it costs and how easy it is to use or buy and whether or not it fits well into a home that is trying to reduce its eco-footprint as we are doing.

But, most importantly, it must fit within the confines of our values that includes a deep hatred for most things consumerism.

We strive to teach independence, the importance of education, love of community and respect for the world in our home. This means we are anti-racist to the ninth degree, we believe our daughters should grow up learning a foreign language and that they should be living among children of all races and ethnicities.

Some of the products will be sent to me complimentary from companies or authors, others will be products that I've picked up along the way and have a strong opinion about.

To get you started with the way I'm thinking, consider signing up for The Center for the New American Dream and receice a great book to download for free called, "Tips for Parenting in a Commericial Culture."

Please feel free to bookmark or subscribe to this blog, but I will always let you know when a post is up by posting about it on Between the Lines.

The first review will be up on Friday, and folks, it's a good one!