Raising a Little Chef with Curious Chef

I was incredibly excited when my son was old enough that he started asking to help in the kitchen when I was cooking. So far he's only a fan of baking for the most part but I'll take what I can get. Curious Chef has a line of products that promote children learning in the kitchen and they not only teach children how to measure, stir and more, but they are also really safe for little hands to use.

The best part about Curious Chef's products is that they are a little chunkier and easier to grab than my regular measuring cups and spoons. Especially things like tiny measuring spoons are tough for my son to keep steady while pouring so these products are a really great addition to our kitchen. We keep them in their own 'baking' box in the kitchen and they are ready to go when the house is chilly and it feels like a good day to bake some chocolate chip cookies! A variety of cookie cutters are also available that are made of plastic. You won't have to worry about the metal side of the cutters.
Curious Chef is available for purchase online as well as in select retail stores. You can visit www.curiouschef.com for more information. This is a great product to purchase now in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. This year you can have your little ones help you out by making their own batch of cookies or baked goods and you can even give them as gifts.

Perplexus: The Bendy, Trendy, Can't Put It Down Challenge

I like to have toys and games around that don't require batteries. There's just something about spending large amounts of money on huge packs of batteries that bugs me, not to mention the time I spend charging all our rechargable ones. It seems a number of the battery operated toys don't do much and don't inspire imagination. My son also seems to play longer with toys that require more concentration like puzzles, books and such. We were able to try out the Perplexus, which is a new spin on a maze or puzzle.

The Perplexus in a clear plastic ball. Inside of it there is a number of shutes, bridges, slides and more that you can to navigate in order to pass a small metal ball from start to finish. There are different levels of the game that are available and the most basic ball starts at age 6. My husband and I enjoyed trying to complete the maze so adults will find this toy just as intriguing.
Perplexus began by a 3D design teacher as a project for art class. Michael McGinnis thought the project could be so much more and inspired to turn the creation into a toy. 20 years later that thought began to form into reality.
Perplexus.net has more information on this challenging toy and locations where you can purchase them. Once you've mastered it once the toy doesn't become boring, you want to do it again and again. Not to mention you can purchase the tougher Perplexus balls and master them all.

Find Fun With Find It Games

In my house we have tons of search and find books, magazines, games and toys. Anything that involves looking for something, my son loves it. We received the kids version of the Find It games and immediately he fell in love with it. Heck, I did too! We enjoyed sitting together, looking for the various items like a balloon, an egg, rubberband and top hat. Find It games encourage children to manipulate the tube to move the beads around and attempt to find everything. It is actually very educational and helps my son focus on the task at hand.

There are a number of different versions of the game available including: Bird Watch, On the Farm, Original, Veggie Tales and many more. Each game retails for about 20 to 25 dollars. Along with the tube you get a pad of paper to check off the items and 26 letter beads. You can compete to see who can find all the items first or you can sit and do it together which is my favorite way to play.
You can visit www.finditgames.com for more information. It's a great idea for Christmas, birthdays or just because, for kids and adults alike.

Growums: Adding Character to Your Garden

I have a three year old son and I love this age. We can do so many more activities and try new things together. My son loves to see how things go together, come apart, grow and figure things out on his own; taking on a new sense of independence.

We were able to try Growums which is a gardening kit for the smallest beginners. The pizza growing kits provided us with seeds to grow our own tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Being big homemade pizza lovers (Smiley face pita pizzas are a hit around here!) I was excited to get these seeds going and see how they would turn out. My thumb is only partially green so I was also eager to see if this kit would work for us.
The process is very simple. You get dirt pellets that expand with water. You can then plant the seeds along with your helper and put them in sunlight to get them going. They germinate in a normal amount of time and we found that watering them every other day or so worked great for us. We started them indoors in our morning room and had no problems.
Moving them outdoors is always the tricky part for me. It's one thing to water them when they are indoors but when I have to venture outside with my son, fill up his watering can, drag out the hose (you get the idea) it becomes a task. Luckily these plants were pretty resillient and did rather well with occassional waterings from us and a little help from the rain.
The Growums kits are definately an affordable way to show your preschooler what it means to grow something and make your own food from it. Aside from the pizza garden you can also buy the salad, herb or taco versions. Visit www.growums.com for more information or to find a retailer nearest you.

Rocking Out With iLuv Creative Technology

iLuv Creative Technology is the supplier for all things Apple and smartphone. Their award winning products are a favorite of tech-fans all over the world and they have been featured everywhere from CNN to Modern Bride. All of their products are designed and discussed at their headquarters in New York City and are available through a set of distributors world wide.

I frequent the gym a number of times per week and when I do I have to have my MP3 player with me or the workout just doesn't seem quite right. There's something about the music that is my driving force to 'get it done and go home' and when I have gone through my third or fourth pair of basic earphones and they still seem to short out or get tangled into a knotted mess, I get a little aggravated. Luckily, iLuv makes a line of earphones (And headphones) that are tangle free and the sound is great.

You don't need to have an Apple product in order to use these earphones. I have a very basic MP3 player that gets the job done but I wasn't a fan of the phones that came with the unit. After trying out the iLuvs, it was like I had a new MP3 player again! There are a ton of different colors and designs avalable with a bunch of different features depending on the model of player you're going to use them with.

You can visit www.i-luv.com for more information on how you can upgrade your current earphones to a higher-end model that will bring you excellent sound and style all in one package.

Sleep Better. Play Better.

Sheex is a line of high performance luxury bedsheets that claim to keep you cool and dry all night long; providing you with an excellent night's sleep. The fabric is very similar to the athletic clothing you can find on the market like Nike Pro or Under Armour. It's 50% more breathable than cotton and it wicks away any moisture it comes in contact with.

The best part of Sheex is that the fabric is much for flexible and stretchy than your typical cotton sheet set. I always find it hard to pull a set of sheets onto our matress because it's a little deeper than most and the corners constantly pop up. Sheex sheets stretch and fit your matress like a glove. It's wrinkle and shrink resistant as well.
The downside to Sheex is that they are a little bit on the high end side when it comes to price. If you factor in how much you would spend on sheets over the course of 10 years, as yours sets become worn and shrink, it may be worth it to you to invest in a set of Sheex. You can buy their product right on their website at www.sheex.com. There are a few shades to choose from and they really are a classy look for your bedroom.

i am BEYOND: The Evolution of Beyond Yoga

i am BEYOND is a line of fashion that is practical for any person who lives an active lifestyle. You can find clothes for yoga class, working out, staying home with your kids or heading to the beach. They've also just released a line of clothing for men and are really taking their fashion line to the next level.

I received a beach coverup from i am BEYOND and I really liked to product right away. What I was happiest about was that it looked nothing like the traditional beach coverups you find in the stores, it looked like an actual shirt that would look cute with a pair of leggings and sandals. Nonetheless, I'll wear it to the beach because that's what it was made for. The coverup is made of a cotton / silk blend and washes perfectly. It didn't shrink one bit, and it even held up fine in the dryer. This specific coverup comes in black or white and retails for about $84.
i am BEYOND also has a line of loungewear that I love. Being a stay at home mom who works from home, I'll admit that I basically live in loungewear. I like calling it loungewear because it makes me feel like I accomplished something by changing out of pajamas in the morning. i am BEYOND deserves it's own title when it comes to loungewear because a number of these pieces are acceptable and comfortable for running errands, cleaning the house, working from home, playing with the kids, hitting up the gym and even sleeping in. There are basic tanks, tees, pants and pullovers that are all really great, really comfortable pieces.
For more information on i am BEYOND, you can visit their website at www.iambeyond.com. You can shop their men's presale until Monday, August 8th and orders will ship on October 1st.

Riding Along This Summer With the PlasmaBike

Once the weather warms up we're immediately outside spending as much time as we can in the sunshine before another summer passes us by and we're stuck inside watching the snowflakes fall. My son just turned 3 at the beginning of this past spring and that means we've done a lot of riding around on ride on toys, bikes and scooters. A really cute toy that is a lot of fun but can also help teach children how to balance properly to prepare them for riding a regular bike is the PlasmaBike.

The PlasmaBike has no pedals and no regular wheels. There are two very thick plastic wheels and the bike itself weighs less than 8 pounds (Which is a great feature around here when my son decides he's had enough and I have to carry the bike back home). The child uses their feet to push the bike along, and it can easily glide down a small hill or the driveway. It's not difficult to balance the bike but it teaches children how to hold up their weight and ride. Children as young as about 18 months old can use this product.
This progressive approach to bike riding is just what my son needed to make sure he wouldn't be scared when hopping on his 'big boy bike'. The PlasmaBike is engineered in Europe and has an attractive and sleek design. You can visit www.plasmabike.com for more information.

Tommee Tippee Cups Can Tip, But The Mess Won't Come Out

I received a set of Tommee Tippee truly spill proof cups in the mail and decided to try them out because I had never been able to find a cup for my son that truly stood up to what it claimed it would do. We must have tried every brand of sippy cup. Most of them claimed to be spill proof, others came with caps for the lids, covers and plenty of other gadgets. Unfortuntely none of them worked well enough that I ever bought them again.

Tommee Tippee's Explora line of sippy cups are considered stage two cups for children nine months and up. They are BPA free and come with a hygeine cap which basically fits over the spout of the cup. I liked this feature because the cap is attached to the cup and I always throw my son's cup in my purse when we're heading out. I've never liked the cups or bottles that don't have a lid to them because I worried about them getting dirty or germy.
The soft-flex spout protects children's gums and it makes the cup comfortable to drink out of . I noticed a number of sippy cups these days have extremely hard spouts to them and when my son was learning to drink out of a sippy cup, it was sometimes hard for him to get used to that hard piece when he had been drinking out of a soft bottle nipple for a full year.
The leak proof portion of this cup is because of a valve system that is like no other on the market. It allows for liquid to only pass through and out if it is being used. It's sensitivity level makes it perfect for a small drinker to get their juice or milk, but allows for them to throw their cup down and not make a mess. This is my favorite part.
You can visit www.tommeetippee.com for more information on the Explora line of products. Tommee Tippee also sells bottles, pacifiers, chewthers and breastfeeding products.

Feeling Good and Looking Good With SassyBax

Sassybax undergarments are made for the 'real' woman who has curves, ages and wants to look good. The design of these items are intended to give a slimming effect without showing bulges or lines underneath your clothes. In 2004 these products were brought onto the market and within their first year, Sassybax landed over 300 high end clients and did very well in profits.

Sassybax vows to "create only useful, solution-based apparel that women with real bodies can enjoy." Their slips, bras, full coverage tops and full coverage bottoms allow women to feel better and look more fit. As women age, weight can shift and end up in places we didn't have problems with when we were younger. Sassybax provides women with the added confidence they need to walk out the door in the morning and feel good about themselves.
The Classic collection from Sassybax is great for women just getting started with the line. It provides the basic pieces neeeded to go with any outfit. The Pretty collection is a sexier line that features more lace and detail.
When choosing a size you can visit www.sassybax.com for more information on what size of Sassybax would work best for your typical measurements. These pieces are meant to be stepped into and be a form fitting to keep everything in and smooth. I did find that the pieces ran a little smaller than I would have typically worn but it really all depends on your comfort level and how you want the product to work for you. Sassybax bras are recommended for pregnant and nursing women as they are very comfortable, give a lot of support and can be pulled down for feedings.

Hours of Fun With ImagiPLAY

ImagiPLAY has been creating children's toys and gifts for over a decade. The quality of their products are wonderful as they are all made of beautiful wood and ecofriendly products. The best part is that they're educational as well. As a mom, I'm constantly trying to figure out where to to stash my son's new toys that he seems to get on a weekly basis and it always bugs me when I'm putting away huge battery operated toys that don't seem to do much. I'm a much bigger fan of things that teach and are quiet.

The Lacing Scapes are by far the best product I've come across for a toddler (over the age of 3). The wooden board comes with a scene painted on it and it has holes all over it. Smaller pieces including pictures of animals, plants and such can be laced onto the scene using cord and the child can make their own pictures time and time again. It's a toy that can be re-invented day after day and the best part is that there's no mess to clean up from this creative toy!
Poseable animals, yoyo's, puzzles and pull along toys are all available from ImagiPLAY. Craft kits that allow your child to paint their own wooden puzzle, magic sets and food play are all great toys to have in your home for hours of endless fun. You can even buy a wooden tooth saver for your older one who is starting to leave presents behind for the tooth fairy.
The price of ImagiPLAY's products are very reasonable and you can visit www.imagiplay.com for more information. You can also contact their customer service department with any questions you may have. Retailer locators can also be found on the website.

Peter Pauper Press: The Best Fine Gifts Since 1928

I'm always happy when I can buy a number of gifts for a number of different people but get them all from the same place. Peter Pauper Press truly has an item for everyone and you can get the whole family done in a relatively short amount of time. They've been making fine gifts since 1928 and have everything from kid's activity sets to to notecards and journals for the adults.

Peter Pauper Press' Scratch and Sketch activity books are great for children over 5 years of age. Each book comes with a wooden stylus and you scrape into the special black paper to reveal your colorful pictures. A number of themes are available such as Wild West, America, Ancient Egypt, Ballet and more. Each book retails for $12.99 and comes as a spiral bound, heavy duty sketch book.

For families on the go, the Good to Go! placemat activity set is a great buy to keep the kids occupied at fancier restaurants that don't necessarily provide activity sheets and crayons for the kids. This set comes with a pad of placemats in a carrying case along with crayons. These sheets are good for kids over the age of 3 and it retails for $9.95. Mega MagnaForms are another great buy for active children. 40 pages along with over 100 magnets come covered in wired binding and a magnetic activity board is attached.

The note cards are my favorite product from Peter Pauper Press. They are small in size, about 3" x 5" and they are very detailed. The pictures on them are beautiful and come with matching envelopes. Each pack contains 14 cards and retails for $8.99. They're great to have on hand when you have to send a quick thank you or get well message.

Designer journals are great to have even for the non-writer. I keep one in my bag at all times for the moment I need to jot something down. The back cover has a sturdy envelope in it so I stash receipts and small pieces of paper in there. I even stick coupons in the pages and the elastic band keeps everything organized and contained. Peter Pauper Press even has journals that allow you to monogram the cover with your initial.

For more information on Peter Pauper Press' fine gifts you can visit www.peterpauper.com.

Hearing and Water Protection By Mack's Ear Plugs

We're a family that's always on the go with some activity or another. We like to go to a lot of festivities, events and whatnot even though we have a young child. Now that my son is a little older, he's very interested in things like Monster Trucks. Our plan was to take him to one of the events in our area but I was worried about the sound level for such a young child, not to mention the other concerts and things like that occurring throughout the summer. I came across Mack's Ear Plugs and Hearing Protection and I was thrilled with what they had to offer.

The business began in 1962 and was sold, to later become Mack's. To date, they sell a wide variety of ear plugs designed for hearing protection, water protection and more. All kinds of people will find their products useful including teens going to concerts, children who swim and are prone to swimmer's ear, motorcyclists and people who want to get some shut eye in a noisy environment. They also offer a deluxe sleep mask to go along with the plugs.
The best part of the product we received was the keychain carrying case that comes along with the pack of earplugs. If I know we're going somewhere and we'll need to bring a few sets of the earplugs along, I don't have to try to find a clean and sterile place in my bag, I can pop a few of them into the keychain and we're ready to go. For great hearing protection you can visit the website: http://www.macksearplugs.com/. There's something for everybody and we can all protect our hearing in the future.