Everyday Baby Steps

I just found out about this website that offers back pain exercises. As someone who suffers from back pain, I thought it was definitely worth checking into.There are free exercises to check out, and Back2Yourself also offers a premium program in which subscribers can get access to a new video exercise every day, with individual progress tracking to keep you motivated. In fact, the program also sends reminders if you haven't exercised in a while. That's what I need!

The three-month subscription is far less expensive than visiting a chiropractor regularly. I've had to reduce my visits to the chiropractor by quite a bit lately, so this is something that is very appealing to me. Check it out!

*This is a sponsored post. The views, however, are my own. I only endorse products that I would personally buy and that I think may be useful to my readers and friends.

Boochie is a fun new game from Gamewright. It's based on the Italian game, Bocce, but is so much more fun due to its hilarious twists and turns. The object of the game is to toss your designated ring and ball as close to the Boochie target as possible. The game is for players ages 8 and over and is designed to be played by two to four people.

The fun part comes in when you're given a special challenge by your wrist tracker, that doubles as a scoring device. Challenges can be anything from hopping on one foot while throwing to making sound effects. Every player's wrist tracker contains different challenges, making it even more fun to see what the next command will be..

My family had a blast with Boochie. The directions were easy to understand, and I appreciate that there are no small parts to get lost. The game never got boring, as there was always something new to encounter with the various challenge commands. Even the baby enjoyed watching us make fools of ourselves out in the yard, and I think the neighbors did too!

When we were done playing, cleaning up was a breeze. Everything fits easily right back into the plastic carrying case. It's a great outdoor game for the whole family to get involved with. I think it would work for kids younger than 8 if they have good coordination and reading skills. The directions say it can be played inside or out, as the pieces are soft. Our house isn't big enough for this kind of game, so we're planning to keep it outside, but it is portable and easy enough to take to a friend's house.

Boochie is a very fun game. It's a great way to let off steam and get everybody moving and having a "ball"! I can see why it's won several awards, including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, the Parenting Media Award, and a Major Fun Award. I totally recommend it for your family. And thank you, Momfluence, for hooking me up with the folks from Gamewright for the chance to review this unique, fun-filled game.

Wow, it's the last day of the Summer Soiree, and it's been so much fun! Thanks to Angie at A Simple Kinda Life for inviting me to join in and to Andrea from Moody Mama Says for partying with us, too! And thank you to all of the sponsors who provided such wonderful products to review and give away. It's been a blast.

Onto the final giveaway in our Soiree - a 20-piece set of Rubbermaid storage containers with the EasyFind Lids! Rubbermaid sent me this set, and I must say that I am loving them. I have wanted to try them since I started seeing them raved about on other blogs. Trying to find matching lids in my messy cupboards drives me crazy. We have a lot of containers that look to be the same size but have very different lids, so we're forever searching for the right fit. But no more - not with our new set of Rubbermaid containers with the EasyFind Lids.

My Review

Love them, love them, love them. I really do. I appreciate that there were different types to test out in the box I received. There were the Premier, hard acrylic containers. I actually had some of these in my container collection, and they've been my favorite. Up until now, that is. My new favorite is the Produce Saver, which has an insert that keeps the produce off of the bottom of the container. The Produce Saver also has a built-in vent system in the lid to allow for additional air flow. That's genius! Lock-its have an extra strong, secure seal that prevents spills or leaks, and the Easy Find Lids are Rubbermaid's traditional containers with lids that snap onto the bottom so they're always close at hand.

Check out the variety. Rubbermaid makes a container for every need. I truly like them all. I haven't had any problems with staining or warping, and the lids continue to snap right onto the bottoms with ease. I'm no longer stuck searching for lids that fit. Yippee! Rubbermaid has graciously agreed to give one of you the chance to try them out, too. To win, all you have to do is visit the Rubbermaid website and tell me which product you'd like to try or which is your favorite. Entries must be received by July 12th at noon EST. You can earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

Today's giveaway is a good one for anyone who's a self-proclaimed shoe addict like I am. It's for a pair of Bandals. What's Bandals, you ask? Bandals is footwear that's "changeable by design". Bandals shoes offer different style bases with interchangeable bands that allow you to get several new looks to match any outfit without purchasing tons of different shoes. Check out the Bandals I received:

Yep, I got the Beach Bandals. I received the plain black base with black band. I also chose the Miranda band, a leopard print that's ever-so-slightly glittery. It's beautiful. Check it out:

Okay, don't mind my feet. I desperately need to polish my nails, but who has time with three kids, two blogs, and several freelance deadlines? Don't look at my feet, just check out the shoes. Aren't they cute? These are not your average flip flops. Check out the Bandals website to see all the varieties you have to choose from, for starters. There are tons of bands to choose from, and you can also choose your base color from black, brown, pink, and white. Each comes with a band of the same color. You can then purchase bands of any design you choose. The possibilities are endless. Amazing.

What's also amazing is the comfort of these shoes. Unlike most flip flops, Beach Bandals are cushiony and flexible. What's more is that they offer arch support. I've worn my Bandals on a shopping trip to the mall, with its hard, cement floor, and my feet didn't get sore. Love that! These are truly the most comfortable flip flops I've ever worn. The band is easy to interchange, and it stays on without slipping or sliding. I have nothing negative to say about them. That's unusual.

Win Your Own!

Okay, now I know you want a chance to win your own pair of Bandals. You're in luck because Bandals has allowed me to offer one lucky reader a pair of these incredible shoes. For your chance, head on over to the Bandals website and check out all the fun styles they have. Then come back and tell me which kind is your favorite. Entries are due by July 12th at noon EST. If you win, I'll put you in touch with Tom from Bandals, who'll hook you up.

Earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

I was given the chance to hear a new CD for kids featuring Bob Marley songs, and I gladly jumped on the opportunity. Bob Marley's music is just all around good stuff and so much fun. I thought my kids would surely enjoy it, and I was right!

"B is for Bob" is a new relase of Bob Marley's old songs, produced by his son, Ziggy Marley. Eight of the original songs were transformed with kids in mind, while four remained untouched. Here's a video of Ziggy telling in his own words why he decided to put out this album and what it means to him.

B is for Bob -

The kids and I had a blast listening to the songs and dancing. Truthfully, the older kids thought the music was a little weird at first, but they soon joined in the fun when they saw the baby and I dancing around! I'd say this CD would be geared toward toddlers and younger kids. But even my "so cool" eight and ten-year olds had some fun with the songs.

What do you think? Do you love Bob Marley? Would you like to introduce your kids to some jammin "new" music? Well, I've got FIVE copies of the "B is for Bob" CD to give away. All you have to do is fill out the form below and tell me who you'd like to share this CD with. Entries are due by June 12th, at noon EST.

You can earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

Elf Island is an online game for kids that parents can really feel good about. I don't know about you, but I worry about the things my kids are doing online. They often seem harmless until they surprise me with something So and So from school told them about some YouTube video. That's why I'm pretty strict about monitoring what they do online. With Elf Island, I don't have to worry, because it's set up to teach kids about giving back and doing good. Gotta like that!

Here's some information about the folks behind Elf Island:

As the parents of twin boys, the dynamic husband and wife team of Liz and Craig
Kronenberger noticed a glaring lack of positive gaming and empowerment within virtual
worlds for kids. From their professional experiences in the kids’ entertainment space, Liz
and Craig decided to blend their entrepreneurial spirit with their philanthropic passions.
Knowing that kids were flocking online to play, Liz and Craig saw a great opportunity to build
something that would entertain, while at the same time fulfill and foster strong social values.
Prompted to act, the Kronenbergers launched Elf Island in 2007, the first virtual world to use
games, storytelling and social interaction to empower kids to make a positive difference in
the real world.
Liz and Craig Kronenberger are committed to creating a fun place for kids that enables them
to give back, influence communities and environments, all through the entertaining world of
Elf Island. It’s empowerment through online fun.

Elf Island uses the phrase, "Play Games, Do Good" to descirbe their Gaming for Good philosophy. The Elf Island game allows kids to use the concept of Mirrored Gaming to practice doing good online while reflecting that same good offline. The game allows them to explore real world issues and to see the improvements that can come from positive action. I love that!

Our Review

And my kids loved it, too. They sat down to play, and I practically had to drag them away. They learned about pollution's effect on our waters and were able to tell me lots of interesting facts they discovered about all kinds of other things as well. Did you know that apples are better for your eyes than carrots? Yeah, me either.And Elf Island is safe for your kids. There are moderators watching what goes on at all times.

They had so much fun that they didn't even realize that they were learning. Elf Island will definitely be in this mom's arsenal for keeping the kids' minds engaged throughout the summer. I look forward to exploring the game with them even more in order to faciliate meaningful conversations about important issues in our world.

Win a One Month Membership

I've got three one month trial memberships to give away to your and your kids! All you have to do for a chance to win is join the Elf Island Fan Club on Facebook and leave me your Facebook user name. If you aren't on Facebook, you can simply tell me what you're doing to keep your child's mind active this summer. All entries must be received by July 12th at noon EST.

Receive extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

Today's giveaway is a good one. It's for a new fashion accesory that will help you to look more polished and put-together. It's called the isABelt, also known as the "fashion fix-it". The isABelt is a thin, plastic belt that's virtually invisible. It keeps everything in place and ends the frustration of back-gap, slippage, and skirts that slide without the bulkiness of a traditional belt.

Elise, from isABelt, was kind enough to send me the new, unisex isABelt wide to try. I really like the idea of having a belt that isn't big and bulky. I've given up on belts for that very reason, but the isABelt is different. It's not bulky at all. It's very smooth fitting and can be adjusted to any size. Though I gotta admit that I had some problems adjusting it at first, even though Elise was sure to point out to me that you don't adjust the isABelt like a bra strap. Once I looked over the instructions on the box again and played around with it, the adjustment came easily. The isABelt website has an instructional video that I should have watched!

I also was afraid that the isABelt would break when I was trying to adjust it. No way. It's made of very strong material that didn't even come close to snapping. Once I got the belt to the proper fit, I just slid it through my belt lookps and follow the instructions to secure it underneath the button on my pants. Easy. And it really was helpful to keep things in place all day long. I hate it when your pants gap at the waist, and the isABelt took care of that quite nicely.

Wanna win an isABelt to try out for yourself? I have the isABelt Wide that's fully adjustable to fit up to 50 inches and the isAStrips, versatile fashion "fix-it" tape that allows you to fix things like sliding bra straps or to secure hems up for grabs. Winning is easy. Just become a fan of isABelt on Facebook, friend Elise on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter. Fill out the form letting me know which one you chose. You'll receive an entry for each one you do. This giveaway will close July 12th at noon EST. Earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

My kids just love I Spy books. You know, the ones with all the pictures where you're supposed to look for certain objects hidden on the page? Well, there a new one out called I Spy A to Z, and we've just had a ball with it. Here's the description from the publisher:

Easy-to-read riddles by Jean Marzollo are paired with forty-six object-filled photographs by Walter Wick to create I Spy A to Z, the most engaging alphabet book ever! With more than thirty titles and 36 million books in print, the I Spy series continues to win the hearts and minds of parents and kids everywhere.

Even though my kids are eight and ten, they still love the challenge of the I Spy books. They're having a lot of fun with this one, and so am I! I tell you what, some of these objects are kind of tough to find, but not so tough that kids get discouraged. I'm excited that this is a book even Brady will be able to enjoy in the not-to-distant future. In fact, he likes to point and laugh along with us, even though he doesn't exactly know what we're looking for.

To celebrate its relase, I've got a great giveaway for you. I Spy is offering one grand prize winner a prize pack worth $85.99 that includes:

• Wii video game - Ultimate I Spy
• Board Game - I Spy Memory Game
• I Spy A to Z Book of Picture Riddles
• I Spy Treasure Hunt

Four runner-up winners will receive a copy of I Spy A to Z Book of Picture Riddles.

To win, just tell me who in your life would love this fun book. Be sure to enter by July 12th at noon EST. You can earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

Chic Tots is a mom-founded company that specializes in children's products that are both functional and stylish. I love that! ChicTots offers products that help you take on your mom duties and look stylish doing it. They offer a wide range of products. I was fortunate enough to try the Chic & Cozy Blanket Bag.

Review

This is the specific bag Chic Tots sent me; it's the Rings Blanket Bag. Isn't it cute? It's also very functional. It converts from a bag to a blanket! I tried it, and I can put beach towels and pool toys in it, then just open it up when we get there and sit the baby on the blanket. How cool is that? Now let's just hope the rain eventually stops so we can actually go to the pool. Anyway, back to the bag. It's very easy to take it from a blanket to a bag, and you can choose your style of bag. I like to carry it as shown in the above picture, but you can also use it as a backpack. Pretty cool, huh? The Chic & Cozy Blaket Bag is made of two sided material - a waterproof side and a soft, cozy side for your toddler to sit on.

Special Offer

Chic Tots has been featured on television shows like The Doctors and The View and in Parent's magazine. Guess what? Select Target stores have started carrying the Chic & Cozy Blanket Bags. Chic Tots is running an exclusive offer right now. If you purchase a Chic & Cozy Blanket Bag before July 11th, you'll receive a $10 Target gift card. Visit the Chic Tots website for details.

Giveaway

Michele, the founder of Chic Tots, has allowed me to offer a giveaway for you! Up for grabs is the Chic & Carry Wristlet in your choice of colors.

The wristlet is an adorable way to carry all your diapering essentials, and it has a front pocket for your keys or wallet. To win, visit Chic Tots, then come back and tell me about your favorite product and why you like it. Entries are due July 12th at noon EST. Winner will be notified by e-mail. You can earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

The Good Home Cookbook: More Than 1,000 Classic American Recipes edited by Richard J. Perry is a 500 page, hardbound compilation of wonderful, time-tested recipes. Many of the recipes contained in this book are probably ones you've had in your own family for generations. The book touts itself as "The only cookbook entirely tested in home kitchens across America."

I don't cook as often as I'd like. When I do, I find it to be a very therapeutic and satisfying process. I enjoy seeing the finished product, tasting it, and savoring the smell. And I love to see the reaction of my family. I'm proud to feed them a home cooked meal and am especially pleased when they tell me they love it. You know how picky kids can be - my heart just swells when my children rave about something I've prepared!

I've truly enjoyed exploring the recipes in this book. There are fifteen chapters, from Breakfast to Drinks and everything in between. Comfort food like Baked French Toast with Apples, Monte Cristo Sandwiches, and Scallped Potato and Ham Casserole are found throughout its pages. The recipe my kids raved about is Oven-Fried Chicken. What a simple dish to prepare, and it's healthy! Can't beat that.

So are you ready to win your own copy of The Good Home Cookbook: More Than 1,000 Classic American Recipes? Leave a comment telling me the name of your favorite tried and true recipe, the one you always turn to because your family loves it so much. If you'd like, feel free to share the whole recipe! Leave your comment by July 12th at noon EST. This method is mandatory to win. You can earn extra entries by:

1. Grabbing our cute Summer Soiree button and posting it prominently on your blog.

2. Subscribing to my blog, either by RSS or email.

3. Add yourself to my followers in the sidebar.

4. Enter a giveaway at A Simple Kinda Life or Moody Mama Says.

5. Stumble this post.

6. Tweet this giveaway, including @marybabysteps in your tweet.

7. Favorite Everyday Baby Steps at Technorati

8. Blog about the Summer Soiree

For every one you choose, you'll receive an additional entry. There are lots of chances, so good luck!

Image from Amazon