The Blog

Up-Cycle Vintage Table DIY Project

I am totally into up-cycling, and pinterest has so much inspiration when it comes to this new fad among many. So thanks to pinterest I am constantly looking around my house to see which victim is next on my list.

I found this old vintage roll away table at a local antique store a few years back, I believe I spent $20 for it. It’s been on my deck ever since with no inspiration, just sitting there. So I took some old paint I had and gave it a “new” vintage look.

Before:

Supplies needed:

Paint

Paint brush

That’s all you need! I had a light peach paint laying around, so I decided with that! I thinned it out just a tad with some water. I did this so I could still see the wood through the paint…it worked perfectly!

After:

No need to be neat with this project, if you miss a few places, no biggy, it’s suppose to look like that!

I added a cascading flower pot, key hook, a beat up frame, an old brown glass bottle and a metal piece of art. These are items I had laying around, so this up-cycle was practically FREE!

On the other side of the table, I put an old bird house my dad made years ago, a new bird feeder, and an up-cycled bunny.

So if you’re looking to slap a coat of paint on a piece of furniture, my advice is,”just do it!” You can easily turn something boring into something fabulous!

Play and Learn with Wallace App (Review and Giveaway) {CLOSED}

Blog· Giveaways· Review

~This review was made possible by Piddy Books~

About the app:

Play and Learn with Wallace is an exciting new series of preschool apps guided by the best practices of early learning experts and teachers. It combines educational games and stimulating interactive play in one dynamic environment to engage preschoolers through first graders in a multitude of ways.

They will learn reading skills, counting skills, problem solving, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and earn rewards that they can feel great about. The apps can be played by subject, or ‘super shuffled? to create endless combinations. New games are regularly added within the app to further expand your child’s early learning experience (additional purchase required).

Introduce your children to the wonderful world of Wallace, and help them take their first steps up the early learning ladder.

Play and Learn with Wallace comes from Priddy Books, the best-selling publisher of over 100 million children’s books worldwide.

When I accepted this review I didn’t realize my daughter’s favorite book, “First 100 Words,” is published by Piddy Books. She truly loves this book and we’ve been reading it almost every night for a very long time.

So I should have known my kids would enjoy Play and Learn with Wallace! It’s an adorable App, perfect for BOTH my children, who are 5 and almost 3. To get started you simply make a profile for each of your children, fill out their name and download a picture. This step took me only a few minutes.

Child’s Profile and Reward Chart:

When they’re finished with a game they receive rewards. My kids love seeing how many they’ve accomplished throughout the day.

Apps that are both fun and educational are a big must in our home, so Play and Learn with Wallace was a no brainer.

This is one of my daughter’s favorite games – The Counting Game. As the objects at the top are moving you need to tap on the object/color they’re asking you to find. This really helps with my daughter’s hand/eye coordination. My son enjoys this game also, but he’s a little faster finding the objects.

Here’s a great game for my son who is learning to sound out his letters. He absolutely loves games like this and he’s getting really good at reading some words simply by sounding out the first letter. So with that being said this particular game was a hit with him!

Key Features:

Free full-featured trial –

try every app before deciding to buy

All apps are hosted by Wallace, the lovable dog

Reward charts and certificates satisfy a child’s desire for accomplishment and recognition

?How is My Child Doing?? shows parents how their child is progressing

Super Shuffle creates an integrated learning experience by automatically combining games from the different apps

Your child’s profile is customizable by name, photo and theme, and keeps track of their achievements

Continuous play mode keeps young minds engaged

Choose between American or British English voice and spelling

Connect:

You can connect with on Facebook, and/or @PriddyBooks on Twitter!

Buy It!

You can buy the Play and Learn with Wallace App for Free, additional Add-On Apps start at $0.99. Compatible with the iPhone and iPad.

The Giveaway: How would you like to win your own $10 iTunes Gift card to upgrade the app? I have two to give away to two lucky contestant!

To enter the giveaway please follow all of the directions below! If you don’t follow the rules, you can’t win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy.

ThermaCELL Latern – Solution for Mosquitoes!

Blog· Review

~Post made possible by ThermaCELL~

ThermaCELL lanterns use patented
technology to vaporize a repellent that is a copy of the natural
repellent found in chrysanthemums. ThermaCELL technology has been used
for over a decade and can now be found in decorative, functional table
top lanterns that can also be hung on Sheppard hooks to light walkways
and create an ambiance for outdoor entertaining. They effectively clear a
15ft x 15ft area in minutes in tests conducted by the U.S. Department
of Defense and they are now available internationally.

With the onset of warmer, wet weather, mosquitoes are hatching in many regions limiting outdoor enjoyment. Here in Florida the mosquito are HORRIBLE!!! The solution that I have been using for several years is ThermaCELL because it is the most effective area repellent that is undetectable to humans yet up to 98% effective at keeping biting bugs at bay.

I am a huge outdoor nut. Hunting, fishing, camping and so much more. My family and I never go without our portable ThermaCell appliances. I mean we literally NEVER go without them. I am just one of those people that get eaten alive if I am outside for just a minute.

I was given the opportunity to try out the lantern for review. Just in time for my big camping trip.

All you need are batteries and you are ready for mosquito protection. The strips in the foil go in the top of the lantern and the butane is what powers up the repellent.

Butane provides the cordless, portable heat that activates the patented devices. The heat generated by the butane cartridge is directed to a metal grill that is part of the design of the Lantern or Appliance. A small mat, saturated with repellent, sits on top of the metal grill. Heat vaporizes the repellent, allowing it to rise into the air.

The extra awesome part of these lanterns over the small appliance versions is they are also a light…because you know…it is a lantern.

I used it right smack dab in the middle of the table. It looks cute and IT REALLY WORKS!!! When I would walk off somewhere I would literally get several bites within minutes and especially my heals on this trip for some weird reason. Back at the table I was bug free.

If you are looking for a solution to mosquitoes ThermaCell is the way to go. No mess and no smells yet you are bug free.

Connect:

You can connect with ThermaCELL Backyard on Facebook, and/or @ThermaCell on Twitter!

Buy It!

You can buy the Patio Lantern for $29.99

I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy.

Recess Monkey – Deep Sea Diver Review

Blog· Review

~Post made possible by Recess Monkey~

Recess Monkey is a unique trio of teachers from Seattle that came together to make music for kids: Drew Holloway on guitar, Jack Forman on bass and keyboards and Korum Bischoff on drums. They have been blending their indie style with entertainment and their plethora of knowledge on childhood themes since 2004, releasing their first album in 2005 “Welcome to Recess Monkey Town”. Each year they have released another album and I’ve been blessed to have been picked to review their 2013 album “Deep Sea Diver”!

I’m the quietest kid in room 217
It’s like I’m going undercover
I really know how to hide
And look in from the outside
That’s where it’s easier to discover
All the while I’m watching and I’m scanning and I’m spying around
I’m seeking and I’m looking and think that I have finally found
My search is at its’ end,
I’ve located a friend

~Up Periscope / Deep Sea Diver

The thing I love about Recess Monkey is the fact that there are so many layers to their music. Aside from the lyrics, some of the tracks remind me of the Beatles “Revolver” mixed with 80s synthpop. The kid friendly lyrics just make it an amazing blend for families!

There are 15 tracks on Deep Sea Diver, all that have their own stories. My favorite is Up Periscope which is about a shy boy and his stealthy tricks as he goes about hunting for a friend and “Stranded” which is a sweet sad tune about a child’s friend moving away, but “Tambourine Submarine” is the most addictive song to listen to and I could actually imagine it on rock stations! My tot and I are always dancing to it!

Here is a list of the tracks you’ll find!

Tambourine Submarine
Fish Sticks
The Deep End
Beach Ball
Shrimp
Compass Rose
Choral Reef
Tattoo Me
The Seven Cs
Seagull
Up Periscope
Walkie Talkies
Seahorse
Making Waves
Stranded…

Also check out their schedule on Shows to see if they are playing in your area! If you want to give your kids a lesson on different types of music, you can give them a headstart in Recess Monkey’s TUNEiversity! They are teachers after all!

I absolutely love this album and I think it has a lot to offers parents and kids, the depth of the music styles and the fun pop lyrics round it out well for adults and children alike. Deep Sea Diver released yesterday and you can grab it in their shop for $14.99 and also check out their previous albums!

Want to learn more about Recess Monkey? Check them out on Facebook and/or follow along @recess_monkey on Twitter! You can also catch some awesome videos on their Youtube Channel!

I received a copy of the CD for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions are my own and are not influenced by any form of compensation.

Kohl’s Cares – Candie’s Collection Review

Blog· Review

~This review was made possible by Kohl’s~

Everyone knows someone.

It could be your friend, coworker, aunt, cousin, mother, or grandmother.

Everyone knows someone who has had breast cancer. Or someone who is close to someone who has breast cancer.

Mine is my coworker. She was 38 when she was diagnosed. She felt a lump rubbing her sports bra at the gym. She did chemo, radiation, and a double mastectomy.

She is now cancer free and will be able to see her two children as they grow up.

But not everyone is so lucky. 1.6 million new cases of breast cancer occurred world wide in 2010. And it is estimated that there will be over 39,000 breast cancer deaths in the US this year.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her
life is a little less than 1 in 8. And for every woman who is
diagnosed, there is a family who hopes for a cure.

So what can you do to help?? Believe it or not, you can shop!!

Shop at Kohl’s to celebrate warmer days with chic summer
styles that support women’s health. The Kohl’s Cares Candie’s collection offers
something for everyone for just $5 and $10 each. Items like beach towels, pajamas, flip flops, sunglasses, etc. Really cute stuff and a really great cause.

Items are
available from May 6 through August 4 online at www.Kohls.com with 100 percent of the net profit donated to support
the fight against breast cancer.

Help fight breast cancer by purchasing
these great summer styles from the Kohl’s Cares Candie’s collection. I chose the:

Polka-dot beach towel

Aviator Sunglasses

and the Printed Acrylic Cup

They are all so cute! And such a steal for $5 or $10! All of the Kohl’s Cares products are really cute and are
available from May 6 through August 4 online at www.Kohls.com with 100 percent of the net profit donated to support
the fight against breast cancer. 100%!

So, go shop for your someone… your mom, grandma, cousin, aunt, friend, coworker…go shop and know that you are helping to save the life of someone else out there.

Connect:

You can connect with Kohl’s on Facebook, and/or @Kohls on Twitter!

Buy It!

You can buy any of the Kohl’s Cares Products for $5-$10.

I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy.

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