What’s in a name? {Birthday Keepsakes review & giveaway}

When it comes to birthday presents, I really love to give something that has meaning. Depending on the person, that can be super hard… Dad!! Hello- does anyone actually have a Dad that is easy to shop for, except for maybe those who like to golf or other such sports! One person who is super easy to shop for is my little peanut!! I mean after all, kids like just about anything right? Depending on the toy, that may or may not hold true!

I recently came across something I am giving my little guy for his 2nd birthday. Now that is still not for many months still, but I am SO excited!! He LOVE LOVE LOVES books. And I’m hoping by the time he turns two he will appreciate this book as much as I do! I was recently generously sent a personalized birthday book from Birthday Keepsakes! Yes!! You’re child can finally be in the story! It is such a great idea! You put in your child’s name, first, middle, and last, and birthday and there is an animal and small desciption that coincides with that letter. There are even options on which animal to choose for each letter! It is customizable for boys, girls, adopted children, any situation possible! There is also a great option to add a caption on the title page with a photo as well as who it’s from and a date too! This book is REAL Mom Recommended and did I already mention I’m excited for his next birthday!!

I think he’s going to go crazy for it! I was super impressed with how quickly it arrived, and the pictures and the story itself is super cute! If you are looking for something ‘extra’ special for your little one’s next birthday (or maybe a niece or nephew), this is the perfect thing! They also have some other really great ideas for personalizing the perfect gift! Thanks birthday keepsakes!

Today Birthday Keepsakes is generously giving away a “my

name story book” to one lucky winner!

(You will recieve a GC that will cover up to 24 characters, a picture on the title page and the cost of shipping.)

Want to win? Here’s how:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Visit Birthday Keepsakes then come back and tell us your favorite item or something you learned from their website.

Once the mandatory entries are completed you can gain additional entries from the following:

4 entries-“Like” Birthday Keepsakes on facebook.

2 entries- “Like” RMRV on facebook.

3 entries-Subscribe to RMRV emails.

3 entries-Follow Birthday Keepsakes on Twitter.

2 entries- Follow RMRV on Twitter

1 entry per day-Tweet the following and leave us your tweet link:

#Enter to win a ”my name story book” at @agiveawaydaily

5 entries- Blog about this entry and leave us the link

3 entries- Add RMRV on Google +

You have until February 2nd @ 11:59 PM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open toUSAonly.

Audrey

Audrey has one very sweet baby boy & has been married for 5 years. She is a licensed massage therapist and enjoys being a SAHM with her little munchkin! She loves working out…especially running, cooking, shopping, makeup, reading, playing the piano, traveling, & spending time with family!
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Audrey January 20, 2012 PRODUCT REVIEWS WITH GIVEAWAYS books, children, entertainment, Gifts, giveaway link up, kids, learning tools

The World Is As Big As Your Imagination {Phaidon Press children’s books review}

I love to read! As a kid I remember some of my favorite books and looked forward to reading them over and over. I think (hopefully!) that my little munchkin may have the same love for books! He may be only 15 months, but he LOVES books! He spends loads of time everyday looking through his collection, meticulously flipping each page and looking at the pictures. It really melts my heart when he actually brings me the book and wants to crawl up into my lap so I can read it to him! We also love our story time every night before bed and have to have at least 3 or more stories before bed. (I could probably get away with only one or two but I LOVE reading to him!!) We recently had the chance to add to our library. Phaidon Press was very generous and sent us some of their new releases in their fabulous children’s collection. I have to say I am very impressed by the creativity and especially the illustrations in the books! We received some for older children as well as younger ones, so I have only been able to read the younger ones to my little guy so far. We especially loved “Bugs in the Garden,” by Beatrice Alemagna, which had illustrations using felt board characters, and also “What color is your world?”, by Bob Gill, which has very creative ideas for teaching kids about colors and what they relate to. I can’t wait for my little guy to get older so we can explore the other books we received! Thanks Phaidon Press!! A couple of the other gals had the same opportunity to try out the books as well. Here’s what they had to say.

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales” ~ Albert Einstein

I believe Albert Einstein was most definitely on to something when he said this, only I believe he could have said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read to them.” Fairy tales, nursery rhymes, fiction, biographies, a cereal box…just read to them. Phaidon Books sent our family several of their children’s titles to read and add to our ever growing library! My children love books and the time we spend together reading them! They were overjoyed with the lot of books they received from Phaidon Books! I mean, really, they spoiled them rotten and we were all so excited! Hollis’ favorite of the bunch is What Colour is your World? By Bob Gill. It is a fun book with whimsical illustrations that is a cute read and can be used to teach colors and even color words to children! Hollis loves sitting in my lap looking at the pages and naming the colors and objects he sees! We also received the Mellops series by Tomi Ungerer including The Mellops go Diving for Treasure, The Mellops Strike Oil, and Christmas Eve at the Mellops’. Ava loves this series and has requested them many nights for her bedtime story. They keep her interested and she loves listening to the story and asking lots of questions throughout! We have had the most fun with Doodle Cook, by Herve Tullet! Ava loves sitting with me and following the instructions as I read them to her! We do a few pages at a time or until she is through! It is so cute to see what she creates on each page, and she really has created a few masterpieces! I’m sure Mr. Tullet would be proud! Phaidon has a children’s book line is full of great titles, all containing great stories and unique illustrations! We love the books we received and look forward to more time reading together!

Amanda

We love books! My kids love to read, and it has always been something (as a mom) that has been important to me for my children. The books we received from Phaidon Press were perfect for my kids! They ranged from “Nicholas” which is a great chapter book for older kids to “Bugs in the Garden” which is a sweet little book for younger children. The ones that I have read with Mia have been darling. She loved all of the pictures and thought What Color is Your World was silly. I think our very favorite book was Doodle Cook, which is an interactive book where you help create the dish according to the recipe. There are all kinds of fun directions which leads to a delightful picture on the page that your child created! April absolutely loved that book! Hailee and Austin are reading Nicholas and think Nichlas is funny and naughty, but do occasionally come to me with a question (they get confused on a few words since it is a English) All in all, we were more then thrilled with the selection of book Phaidon Press. Everyone of them was wonderful! We loved everyone of them!!

Erin

Be sure to check out the other titles in the children’s collection available through Phaidon’s website!! You won’t be disappointed! These children’s books come REAL Mom Recommended and I’m so excited to continue the adventures of reading with my little guy!

Audrey

Audrey January 18, 2012 PRODUCT REVIEWS books, children, entertainment, kids, learning tools

‘Apps’olutely Wonderful! {Disney It’s a Small World App & JumpStart my ABC Book App Reviews}

The iPhone. An amazing invention my children may love even more than I do, if that’s even possible! They enjoy playing their games on that little phone and I am happy that most of the games or Apps I download are educational as well as entertaining! So fun to trick them into learning while they think they are just having fun! {insert mama’s evil laugh here!} Over the holidays I was able to download two new Apps for my children and let me tell you, they have had fun with both!

Disney’s new App, It’s a Small World, allows you to experience Disney’s It’s a Small World ride, song and lyrics in a new way! Through beautiful illustrations, adorable animation and creative music, your child will take an amazing adventure around the globe in their own hot air balloon! Your child will love the whimsical and colorful illustrations and will learn to say “hello” in 16 different languages! Each place your child will visit is whimsically illustrated with all sorts of quirky surprises. Simply tap on the people, musical instruments, or even stars and your child will hear words, music, or even animal sounds! Every time your child visits they are sure to discover something new to grab their attention! This app is a great addition to our selection and with it’s many wonderful features is sure to keep the kids entertained for quite some time!

The “It’s a Small World” app is available for $3.99 from the App Store on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch!

JumpStart My ABC Book teaches toddlers the abc’s through words and pictures, guaranteed to entertain any younger learner. with songs and poems, this app is sure to keep your child learning the fun way! It is a colorful alphabet-learning app for ages 2-5. Filled with engaging songs and poems, this audio-centric app is a great way for your little one to learn the alphabet.

The JumpStart my ABC Book app created by Knowledge Adventure, offers two interactive modes; Read & Learn! The first is a game where your child will match an alphabet letter with an image that starts with that letter/letter sound. A chorus of children shout the letter name and when your child chooses the correct image, a narrator speaks the image name. If you make a correct match, a checkmark appears in a box and you move on the next letter! You then continue until all of the boxes are checked practicing several different letters and letter sounds!

The second mode is more like free play. A letter is shown with a selection of images for your child to use to decorate the page. You can hear each alphabet letter , your child will add images that start with that letter and once their image is complete, they can snap a quick photo of each page and add it to their own album! Ava’s favorite part! My little photographer! You can also hear rhymes and songs for each letter all spoken, sang or chanted by children!

Features
•Simple, fun and addictive, with tons of replayability
•Audio instructions and clues make it ideal for preschoolers to play and have fun
•Helps hone skills of letter recognition, vocabulary, language development, memory
•Picture / Word association — words for each alphabet are spoken when pictures are touched, Individual words highlight and are read aloud when tapped
•Audio narration by way of poems and quotes
•Interactive learning which allows the child to decorate images and save them in an album

The JumpStart My ABC Book App is a great tool in helping children with letter recognition as well as letter/sound correspondence! Using songs, rhymes, and repetition, your child will quickly pick up on what each letter looks and sounds like!

The Jumpstart my ABC Book App is designed for both iPhone and iPad and available for only $1.99.

Amanda

Amanda is a southern gal that loves coffee shop chit chat with dear friends, daydreaming, and an obsession with with polka dots, scarves, funky jewelry, children’s books, and anything vintage. She has two of the sweetest children that fill her heart and days with happiness.
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Amanda January 4, 2012 PRODUCT REVIEWS children, games, learning tools

Protection for those you care about {Pong ipad 2 case review}

OK people. Who out there has kids/babies who get a hold of their cell phones or iPads? Maybe you will think I’m crazy, but my 14 month loves playing with our ipad. He loves touching the screen and seeing things move. He even knows that when the key pad comes up, he is supposed to type. He LOVES playing with it and it is a go to when I need to distract him for a minute. Now don’t worry, I don’t let him play with it without my supervision! (I don’t want some random thing from Amazon accidentally being ordered and arriving on my doorstep! ) He is also equally obsessed with my smart phone, but I don’t let him have that because he is still putting EVERYTHING in his mouth and so that is a big NO NO. But the point is, kids are going to be exposed to technology. I heard rumors years ago that cell phones maybe could possibly… cause cancer? Then that was supposedly debunked and I didn’t hear more about it. Well, I just heard more about it. I was generously sent an ipad case to try by a research company called Pong and I am SO glad I have been “exposed” to this knowledge and so I want to share it with you! Get out your reading glasses… I’m just gonna throw it all at ya!

About Pong Research Corporation

Launched in 2011, Pong is the world’s leading maker of cell phone and iPad cases that protect smart phone and tablet users from the wireless device radiation that the World Health Organization classified in 2011 as a possible carcinogen. Developed by scientists out of Princeton, Harvard, UCLA and MIT, Pong cases have been tested and proven in FCC-certified labs to reduce the level of exposure to wireless device radiation by up to 95% below the target set by the FCC. Pong embeds in each case a patented and proprietary technology that redirects and redistributes the cell phone radiation that would otherwise be absorbed by the user’s head and body. Easy to put on and take off, Pong cases fit a variety of iPhones, BlackBerrys and Android phones as well as the iPad and iPad 2, are available in a variety of colors and styles and have been designed and tested to work anywhere in the world. For more information, visit www.pongresearch.com

About Cell Phone Radiation

In May 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified cell phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The WHO based its findings on a large, international study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that showed an increased risk of a certain type of brain tumor called glioma from regular use of cell phones – defined in the study as 1,640 hours or more of cumulative use. In consumer terms, that equates to slightly less than a half hour of daily use over a 10-year period. Adding to the evidence is a separate 2011 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which found that 50 minutes of cell phone use affected brain activity in the area nearest to the phone. Concerns about SAR have led the FCC to impose strict SAR limits on cell phones and tablets and mandate that Apple, Blackberry and other cellular device makers warn consumers not to put their cell phone directly against their head or body when using it. Unbeknownst to most consumers, these warnings can be found in all cellular device manuals. Suggestions on how to limit exposure to cell phone radiation, such as texting, using the speaker, or turning the cell phone off when not in use, are not always possible or practical. In addition, the FCC warns against the use of products that claim to shield or block cell phone radiation because they can actually increase the user’s radiation exposure. Making matters worse, shields can also negatively impact a device’s performance.

Pong cases have been prove in independent, FCC-certified labs to reduce radiation exposure up to 95% below the targets set by the FCC and ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection)
Pong cases are the only solution on the market that has been proven to protect consumers from unnecessary exposure to device radiation while also protecting a device’s performance
Pong embeds in each case a patented antenna technology that redirects and redistributes cell phone radiation that would otherwise be absorbed by the user’s head and body, which is of concern to the World Health Organization and medical experts and scientists worldwide
Pong’s patented technology was developed by a team of experts out of Princeton, Harvard, UCLA and MIT with backgrounds in in plasma physics, nuclear and radiation science, cell biology, electronics engineering and behavioral science
Pong cases easy to put on and take off and have been designed and tested to work anywhere in the world (Pong cases are currently in use in 50 countries)

Pong cases costs between $49.99 and $99.99 and are available at www.pongresearch.com A small price to pay if you ask me considering it’s ours and especially our children’s health we are talking about! Why take chances??

What are your thoughts? I tend to be a Nervous Nelly about almost anything that involves my son, so I am not taking any chances. What about older kids who may be getting their first cell phones or getting an ipad for Christmas? This is a gift of love and concern you can’t go wrong with! These make the perfect gift to go with those other bigger gifts! It would also make a great gift for the guys in your life that are IMPOSSIBLE to shop for! I love my Pong case. It literally snapped right on and can be used in about 5 different ways! This case is REAL Mom Recommended! Happy Holidays! Here’s to a safe and healthy year! If you order by tomorrow, they will still get it to ya before Christmas!!

Pong cases can be purchased online. Follow them on facebook for more great information and promotions!

Audrey

Audrey December 19, 2011 Holiday 2011, PRODUCT REVIEWS dad, entertainment, health, learning tools

Arts, Crafts, and Laughs! {KLUTZ Review and Giveaway}

As a mom, I get tired of the TV, the Wii, and movies going non stop. I love when my kids have some “unplugged” time and have a little ‘ol fun. But, those things don’t always seem to be what my kids want to do cuz it ‘s “boring.” Well, here is a NON BORING way to unplug and let your kid’s creative side come out. KLUTZ is a company that is all about kids! They offer so many fun things for kids to do while being creative and use their imaginations. They have all kinds of different books that are a “how to” of sorts. Not only do they tell you how to do something, they SHOW you how to do and create. The books come with just about everything you need to do the craft, activity, or project involved.

…”how-to books from Klutz come packaged with the tools of their trade (from juggling cubes to face paints to yo-yos), and are designed for doing, not just reading. “We think people learn best through their hands, nose, feet, mouth and ears. Then their eyes. So we design multi-sensory books,” Cassidy says. The appeal of this hands-on approach is borne out by sales figures; Klutz is a fixture on U.S. book and toy bestseller lists, and is available in 24 countries around the world.”

KLUTZ was so kind to let us give two of their books a whirl. The first we got was Stamp Art. This is one of the newest books in their collection. “Stamp Art makes stamping simpler — and more creative — than ever. Stick the included shapes on the see-through acrylic block to create your own one-of-a-kind stamp design. Full of inspirational artwork and instruction, this stamp-right-in-it book shows how to create animals, flowers, houses, aliens… anything you can dream up.” At first glance, I thought it was a normal stamping book, but it’s not. It is WAY more. The stamps come in a variety of shapes and sizes and you piece those shapes together to create flowers, animals, houses, fairies, anything you can dream of. Not only does the book come with stamps, but it comes with ink for stamping, pencils for coloring in and of course the block to put the stamps on. GENIOUS!

The second book is called Draw The DC Universe. This book is a great one for the little guys in your life. It isn’t girly like a lot of “art” projects seem to be, so they will love it for sure! “This book is a complete how-to-draw package, jammed with expert tips and techniques, tons of practice space, and of course, a universe of DC heroes and villains. The draw-right-in-it book comes with everything you need: a sketching pencil, a drawing marker, artist’s pencils in six colors, a big block eraser to fight crimes against the page, stencils, and translucent overlays scattered throughout for can’t-fail tracing activities.” I was worried that this book would be too hard for my 8 year old, but not only does it have tips and hints on how to draw, it has clear overlays to trace! So whether they can or can’t draw, they can with this book! Your little guy will feel like a super hero himself while he is sketching, doodling and drawing all of those heroes they love to read about and watch!

These books are not cheap little flimsy paperback books with a couple of pencils attached. They are good sized hard back books. The colors and pages are wonderful! I honestly didn’t know this company existed, but now I am so glad that I do! My girls are totally into stuff like this. I know April would love the Paper Fashions Fancy. She loves drawing dresses and the girls to put them on,this would take it to a whole new level for her. Another one I would love to see my kids try (okay, maybe I want to try it too) is the Capsters. Who doesn’t need a little bottle cap art in their life!? Any of their products would make an incredible Christmas gift for any child! REAL MOM APPROVED!!

Order online at KLUTZ.com and use the coupon code KLUTZ4U and receive 20% off your entire order!! Promo cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires 12/31/2011

Want to See Your Kid’s Face Light Up On Christmas When They Open These Books?!

Enter To Win!! There will be 2 lucky winners that will each receive the Stamp Art book AND Draw the DC Universe book.

{Mandatory entry}

Visit KLUTZ and take a look around. Come back and tell us which one of their incredible books your kids would like most.

Once the mandatory entry is complete, you can gain additional entries from the following:

2 entries- “Like” KLUTZ Genie on Facebook.

2 entries- “Like” RMRV on Facebook.

3 entries- Subscribe to RMRV emails.

2 entries- Follow RMRV on Twitter.

3 entries-Watch the YouTube video from How To Draw DC Universe.

1 entry per day- Tweet the following and leave us your tweet link:

#WIN 2 KLUTZ Books!! @agiveawaydaily

5 entries- Blog about this giveaway and leave us the link.

You have until December 7th @ 11:59 PM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only.

This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure here.

Erin

Erin is a mommy to 4 fab kiddos! She serves as their maid, cook, and taxi driver. She has been married to the “man of her dreams” for 11 years now. They love spending every free minute together enjoying activities such as camping, swimming, playing games and having movie night.
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Erin November 23, 2011 Holiday 2011, PRODUCT REVIEWS WITH GIVEAWAYS books, children, entertainment, Gifts, kids, learning tools, toys

Caillou’s Firehouse Fun! {Caillou’s Fireman’s House Review and Giveaway}

We watch a lot of cartoons at our house, but one of our favorite is Caillou. If you have ever seen the show, I am sure you fell in love with the bald little boy named Caillou (pronounced kI-you) and his little sister Rosie. The two of them are a sweet little pair. Their mom and dad take them on all kinds of fun everyday adventures and turn everyday into a special day.

We were grateful to receive the Caillou Fireman’s House. Mia and her friend had a wonderful time playing with sweet Caillou and all of his fire things. They turned the firehouse into an adventure!

“Caillou Fireman’s House is packed with firemen themes including fire station, firemen car with fire hose, and Caillou fireman figure and cat figure. Character from the famous TV series. Stimulates the imagination and creativity. Improve sociability and language. Stimulates motricity and coordination.

Caillou is a preschooler who delights in the small wonders of the world around him, embellishing everything he sees with his rich imagination. With a focus on role-playing and make-believe Caillou toys and games help spruce up
reality with a healthy dose of imagination so your kids will be inspired to make up adventures of their own. ”

Anything Caillou is sure to make your preschooler squeal with delight! I hope your kids know the Caillou song as well as mine do!

Does Your Little Caillou Fan Want to Play Fireman?!

You Can WIN the Caillou Fireman’s House!

{Mandatory entry}

Tell us about an adventure you would like to see Caillou take your kids on.

Once the mandatory entry is complete, you can gain additional entries from the following:

2 entries- “Like” RMRV on Facebook.

2 entries- “Like” Caillou on Facebook.

3 entries- Subscribe to RMRV emails.

3 entries- Follow Real Moms Real Views by Google Friends Connect.

1 entry per day- Tweet the following and leave us your tweet link:

#WIN a Caillou Fireman’s House at the Real Moms Real Views Holiday Event @agiveawaydaily

1 entry – Comment on any non-giveaway RMRV post (you can do this up to 3 times).

5 entries- Blog about this entry and leave us the link.

You have until December 5th @ 11:59 PM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only. This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure here

Erin

Erin November 17, 2011 Holiday 2011, PRODUCT REVIEWS WITH GIVEAWAYS, subscribe by email Caillou, children, kids, learning tools, toys

A salad a day keeps the Dr. away { Super Immunity book review}

Well…. here we are in full force with fall winding down and winter just around the corner. Everyone is bundled up, scarves and gloves are the essentials, and so is my wet wipe pack and anti-bacterial hand gel. (I always use these but come Fall/Winter I get especially vigilant about wiping down surfaces while I’m out, especially with a baby!) One of the not so great things about this time of year is that it is getting to be cold/flu season. I have been fortunate to not have gotten sick really at all this past year (knock on wood! As I speak, my hubby is coming down with something and I’m praying I don’t get it too!) Perhaps it’s just all the germ-a-phob tactics I use or maybe I’ve just been lucky.

There is something else though that you can add to your arsenal of not getting sick besides luck and turning into a germ freak! I recently had the opportunity to read Super Immunity, The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger and Disease Free, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD. It is a great book that gives you tools to become almost totally resistant to colds, flus, and other infections. I have actually read other books by Dr. Fuhrman and so when I got the chance to read this one, I jumped at it! Dr. Fuhrman is a leading expert and board certified medical specialist in prevention and reversing disease. He first starts off about talking about the quality of food, or really lack there of in the mainstream American diet and how that equates to how most people suffer from chronic infections and other lifestyle diseases like heart disease, cancer and obesity. He then goes on to challenge the medical community and why just simply taking a medication for something is really useless or even more, has negative health consequences.

Dr. Fuhrman then gets into to the great part about whole, plant based foods and how they are vital in increasing our health and our immunity. He includes recipes as well as a two week meal plan to get you started. There is a whole chapter dedicated to just talking about the cold and flu. He debunks some common myths about it and sorts out common remedies and whether or not they really work. This is a perfect read for right now heading into cold/flu season. It completely inspired me to “clean up” my eating and to rededicate myself to eating a more whole, plant based diet. This book would make a great gift for someone who is struggling with their health, or just for anyone you care about, including yourself!

You can find more information about Dr. Fuhrman and this and his other works on his website. This book is REAL Mom Recommended and is available where books are sold, including e-books. It is also available through Dr. Fuhrman’s website. Thanks Dr. Fuhrman!

This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure here.

Audrey

Audrey November 17, 2011 Holiday 2011, PRODUCT REVIEWS food, learning tools, recipes, weight loss

Hidden Holiday Fun! {Can You See What I See? Toyland Express by Walter Wick Review & Giveaway}

We are already getting excited about the Holidays! I know they will be here and gone before we know it, so we are already busting out some holiday fun around the house! I love snuggling up and spending time reading holiday books to the kids, Can You See What I See? Toyland Express, by Walter Wick has quickly become a new holiday favorite for the kids and myself!

An amazing new search-and-find adventure from the creative mind of renowned photographer and author Walter Wick. Amazing photographs accompany a search-and-find story by Walter Wick, the creator of award-winning picture books, the author and photographer of the New York Times bestselling Can You See What I See? series, and the photographer of the bestselling I Spy series.YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? TOYLAND EXPRESS, the eighth title in the bestselling search-and-find series, follows the life of a toy train from the workshop to the attic, only to be rescued at a yard sale and brought to life once again in a new home. As readers search for more than 250 hidden objects, they will also notice how the train takes on various transformations along its journey.

Ava loves reading her Can You See What I See? Cool Collections book at her Gran’s house and I knew she would adore her own copy of the new Can You See What I See? Toyland Express Search and Solve book! She will spend quite a long time searching for the items listed and feels so accomplished when she finds something she is searching for! We have been looking at Can You See What I See? Toyland Express every night before bed, spending bit of time on a couple pages. She looks so forward to searching and finding and she is a little collector herself, so she loves looking at the detailed pictures throughout the book! We make up different games as we search through each page…who can find the most items? Who can find the item the fastest? You will have so much fun sharing this book with your child!

Check out some behind the scenes footage from the creation of Toyland Express!

Walter Wick has opened millions of eyes to a world of treasures big and small in his award-winning, bestselling I SPY and CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? picture-puzzle books. Walter discovered his passion for building picture puzzles by accident. One day when cleaning out a drawer, he scattered odds and ends on a glass tabletop and photographed them. The photo appeared in a magazine and caught the eye of Jean Marzollo, editor of Scholastic’s Let’s Find Out. This photo inspired the first I SPY book, with riddles by Jean Marzollo, and led to their long collaboration.

You can keep up with Walter Wick and his work by checking out his website & Facebook Page!

Today, Three Winners will receive a copy of Can You See What I See? Toyland Express! by Walter Wick to add to their holiday library!

Want to enter to win? Here’s how!

Mandatory 1st Entry:

1)Visit Scholastic and take a look around! Come back and tell us another book you would love to add to your child’s library this holiday season!

—————————————————————————————————-

Once the mandatory entry is completed you can gain additional entries from the following:

3 entries-Subscribe to RMRV emails or RSS feed.

5 entries- Follow Real Moms Real Views by Google Friends Connect.

1 entry: “Like” RMRV on Facebook!

1 entry: “Like” Scholastic on Facebook. {you can leave them a little love, if you wish!}

1 entry: “Like” Walter Wick on Facebook! {You can leave a little love, if you wish!}

2 entries: Follow Scholastic on Twitter.

1 entry per day-Tweet the following and leave us your tweet link:

#WIN Can You See What I See? Toyland Express from @scholastic @agiveawaydaily

2 entries: Comment on any non-giveaway post on RMRV!

5 entries- Blog about this giveaway and leave us the link.

Can You See What I See? Toyland Express is Real Mom Approved and would make a fantastic holiday gift!!!

{You have until November 29th @ 11:59 PM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only. This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure here.}

Amanda

Amanda November 15, 2011 Holiday 2011, PRODUCT REVIEWS WITH GIVEAWAYS books, children, Gifts, kids, learning tools

King of the Throne {Prince LionHeart pottyPOD review}

It is truly amazing how fast babies grow! One day you are looking at your adorable newborn thinking… “How small this perfect little creature is! How could they ever grow so fast (like everyone says!)” Well, the rumors are true!! Babies grow up REALLY fast!! I still can’t believe it’s only been a little more than a year and my little guy is so big, so active, so smart… I could go on like every parent! We have entered the toddler stage! One thing that we haven’t adventured into yet, but which is right around the corner, is potty training. I. Am. Scared! I have heard horror stories from my friends about diaper escapees, abstract wall art ala poopie, fire hose aiming training, (for us blessed with boys!) and other such delightful adventures! Thankfully I still probably have at least a year before we take those first steps toward the “big boy seat,” but I recently had the chance to look over an awesome potty training chair that I know will make our transition WAY easier! It’s called the pottyPODby Prince Lion Heart (hence the king of the throne reference!)

pottyPOD™ helps create a hassle-free potty experience that makes potty training easier for you and your child. Because it looks similar to a real toilet and is familiar to your child, the pottyPOD™ makes the transition from a potty seat to a grown-up toilet easier. The ONLY Anti-Microbial pottyPOD™ on the market! The soft, cushiony surface of the pottyPOD™ is treated with an EPA approved additive to inhibit the growth of microorganisms that may cause spoilage, odors and mildew.

I am really impressed with this seat! The seat is super soft and squishy… but not too squishy! There is also a removable deflector shield, again, perfect for little firehoses! And the base is adjustable so that it can grow with your child and also has firm, nonslip grips so it will stay put! And of course the bowl is removable! I really love that it looks just like a big kid pot, so there hopefully will be no fear going from this seat to the real one! I don’t know if I can say that I am actually looking forward to potty training, but with this super cool seat, hopefully the experience will be a little less stressful for mom and tot! Thanks Prince Lionheart!

This seat is REAL Mom Recommended and can be purchased through online retailers and at select stores nation wide. For more information, join them on facebook!

This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure here.

Audrey

Audrey November 15, 2011 PRODUCT REVIEWS baby gear, learning tools

Play to their hearts content {Haba toy review & giveaway}

It seems that there can never be quite enough toys to entertain a toddler. Especially one that is as active and into EVERYTHING as mine is! He is at the stage where he loves putting objects in bigger containers. We spend time every day working on trying to get shapes to fit in their right holes… he’s still working on that part. Another thing he still does is put everything in his mouth… and I do mean EVERYTHING!!! I’m sure he must have a good immune system from all the stuff that has taken a turn in the mouth. But with all that chewing, I need every toy he plays with to be super durable!

I recently had the chance to try out some toys from the company HABA. I should say my little munchkin really did the trying! Haba is a a German toy company that specializes in high quality, fine crafted wooden toys for children of all ages. They were very generous and sent me the sorting box animals and the dotty beetle rattling figure to try.

My little guy still loved the rattle, even though he is 13 months.. remember the chewing and mouth obsession… it was a perfect thing to chew on!It is made of beechwood parts threaded together by cord that allow the legs to jingle and jangle! Super fun! This toy is recommended for babies 10+ months!

The other one, the sorting box, is loved by my peanut and will be for quite some time. It is a shape sorter that has two removable templates with 6 very sturdy shapes to fit through the holes. The awesome thing is that the templates have colorful scenes on both sides that correspond to pictures on the shapes. Example, there is a cat on one template, and the shape that fits has a mouse on it! You get the idea! Super fun and what a great way to not only train motor skills but to also learn as they get older! This toy is recommended for babies 1 yr +. The box is made of natural birch wood, is very sturdy for lots of tossing around. The shapes and templates are also made of birch wood. We are loving our toys and look forward to growing with them!! Thanks HABA Toys!

These toys are REAL Mom Recommended and can be purchased online!

Today HABA Toys is generously giving away the sorting box

animals and the dotty beetle rattling figure to one lucky winner!

Want to win? Here’s how:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Visit HABA on Facebook or at http://www.maukilo.com/ then come back and tell us your favorite item or something you learned from their website.

Once the mandatory entries are completed you can gain additional entries from the following:

4 entries-“Like” Haba on facebook.

2 entries- “Like” RMRV on facebook.

3 entries-Subscribe to RMRV emails.

1 entry per day-Tweet the following and leave us your tweet link:

#Enter to win HABA toys at @agiveawaydaily

5 entries- Blog about this entry and leave us the link.

You have until November 28th @ 11:59 PM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only.

This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure here.

Audrey

Audrey November 13, 2011 Holiday 2011, PRODUCT REVIEWS WITH GIVEAWAYS Baby, children, giveaway link up, learning tools, toys

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(You will recieve a GC that will cover up to 24 characters, a picture on the title page and the cost of shipping.)

Want to win? Here’s how:

The World Is As Big As Your Imagination {Phaidon Press children’s books review}

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Hidden Holiday Fun! {Can You See What I See? Toyland Express by Walter Wick Review & Giveaway}

King of the Throne {Prince LionHeart pottyPOD review}

Play to their hearts content {Haba toy review & giveaway}

Today HABA Toys is generously giving away the sorting box

animals and the dotty beetle rattling figure to one lucky winner!

Want to win? Here’s how:

GRAB OUR BUTTONS

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Today Birthday Keepsakes is generously giving away a “my

name story book” to one lucky winner!

(You will recieve a GC that will cover up to 24 characters, a picture on the title page and the cost of shipping.)

Want to win? Here’s how:

Amanda

Erin

Today HABA Toys is generously giving away the sorting box

animals and the dotty beetle rattling figure to one lucky winner!

Want to win? Here’s how:

GRAB OUR BUTTONS

RMRV BLOG BFF’S

WHAT’S NEW

SEARCH RMRV

ARCHIVES