The Full Mommy

After Etan: The Missing Child Case That Held America Captive

2009-11-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Last summer, I reviewed Robin Sax's book, Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids SAFE. After seeing that review, another author, Lisa R. Cohen, contacted me about her own book, After Etan: The Missing Child Case that Held America Captive. I am really not interested in developing a specialty in this genre, but Cohen's email intrigued me enough that I agreed to read her book too.

Her publisher sent me a copy, which then sat untouched for several months because--as was the case with Sax's book--I couldn't bring myself to start it. Why would I voluntarily want to read about this poor child, Etan Patz, who disappeared in 1979? And his parents, who have lived with uncertainty and grief ever since?

In the end, the story was too compelling for me to ignore. I wanted to know what had happened, and how the Patzes found the strength to continue breathing after their nightmare stretched from minutes to days to years in length. Cohen explains it all in this book, and once I started reading, I was captivated just like so many who have followed or been involved in this case over the past three decades.

Cohen was a TV producer in the early 1990s when she first started researching this case. She later spent several years tracking down its many complicated details and turning them into this book. It takes all 367 pages Cohen has to explain the story of Etan's alleged killer and how he was (kind of, sort of) brought to justice. The book has plenty of substance, if not a lot of style; it reads more like a newspaper article than a true-crime novel, but I appreciated the lack of breathlessness and exaggeration.

One surprise is that the heroes here are not only Stan and Julie Patz, Etan's parents, but also law enforcement officials like prosecutor Stu GraBois and FBI agent Mary Galligan. In fact, for large sections of the book, the Patz family moves to the sidelines as the narrative focuses on the hunt for Etan's suspected killer, and the creative legal efforts GraBois undertakes to mete out justice. My knowledge of and admiration for all of these people, and for the positive changes they have created, will stay with me far longer than my disgust for the killer. And that is the true beauty of this book.

Mayberry Mom will not be reading any more books about kids in jeopardy for quite some time, OK?

Please read our disclosure statement.

Green Toys Will Get Your Kids Cooking a Non-Toxic Pretend Meal in No Time!

2009-11-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

Over the past year or so, my children have grown to love Green Toys, and so have I.

Of course I like the idea of Green Toys--they are made from recycled milk jugs and are made in the USA, thus reducing energy use because they aren't transported from say, China. And you don't have to worry about their safety because they are BPA-, lead paint-, and phthalate-free.

But what I really like is the quality of the toys.

My children have the Tea Set and the Recycle Truck and they look as good now as the day we got them. And they get so much play time. Both my son and daughter like the tea set. My son is an excellent guest at the best tea parties served by his hostess of a sister. And he even likes to pour a cup of tea for his grandma. (Read my reviews of the Tea Set and Recycle Truck.)

Both my son and daughter play with the recycling truck. In fact, if a small toy has gone missing, it's likely that it's in back of the truck!

Another plus is that you can literally take them out of the box and start playing with them. No pesky twist ties to wrestle with and no excess, unnecessary packaging.

Green Toys sent our family the Dish Set and Chef Set to cook and serve up a few meals in our "kitchen." As with all the other Green Toys, these sets are of the utmost quality and look as durable as the other toys have been for us. I love that the kids could play in less than 0 to 60 since I could open the box and take the toys right out.

The dish set includes 24 pieces: 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 bowls, and 4 place settings (fork/knife/spoon).

The chef set includes a stock pot with lid, skillet, ladle, and spatula.

These two sets can also be purchased together (at a discounted price) as the Cookware and Dining Set.

I have to say that even if Green Toys hadn't given me toys to test drive, I would be a fan. In fact, some of the other toys that the company makes will likely appear under our tree courtesy of Santa. I know my son will be receiving a shiny new Green Toys Dump Truck which I am purchasing from our local toy store. Shhh, don't tell.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Please read our disclosure statement. Green Toys provided me with the dish set and chef set for this review as well as other toys in the past. We are HUGE fans!

HABA Wiggling Cow Game From Maukilo

2009-11-20T00:00:00.010-05:00

We have a set of HABA Sevilla building blocks which my children love and play with very frequently. They use them in a variety of ways. My daughter likes to build high rises and fantasize about moving to the big city. My son likes to build tunnels for his train engines to pass through.

When Maukilo asked if we would like to try out one of the HABA board games, I thought we might have fun. They sent us the Wiggling Cow game.

My daughter isn't quite six, but we've enjoyed playing the game together. We played according to the suggested rules, and then we played according to the guidelines my daughter made up. It was good practice counting the cards and took a bit of dexterity to use the wooden fork to slide the cards out from under the cow. As with other HABA toys, the Wiggling Cow game can be pretty open ended. In fact, the cow was not returned to the box for several days as it made it's rounds of our other playsets!

(From the company:)
There’s no crying over spilled milk or in this hilarious game a “spilled cow.” Pile up the hay/flower cards and carefully pull on the cow’s tail and balance him on top of the cards. Each player uses the hayfork to harvest a card while trying not to tip over the cow. Whoever collects the most cards wins! The rules permit the cow to tip up to 3 times during a round. A more challenging variation asks players to count the flowers on the cards! Designed for 1 to 4 players, ages 6 and up.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: COW
Prize: Choice of HABA game: Animal Upon Animal, Wiggling Cow, or Castle Knights
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: What other toy from Maukilo looks fun?
Enter By: November 27, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
U.S. shipping addresses only. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Please read our disclosure statement. Maukilo sent me the Wiggling Cow game to play with my daughter.

Adorable Kinders Rag Dolls

2009-11-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

When Granza offered to send one of my children an Adorable Kinders Rag Doll, I chose the Landon boy doll for my son. It isn't often that you find cute boy dolls and I think it's important for boys to have loving toys in addition to the rough-and-tumble ones that are usually geared toward them.

Little did I know that my daughter would be so taken with him. If I was choosing for her, I probably would have selected a fancier doll like Mari. What my daughter loves about this soft doll is that she can doctor him up. She has placed a cast from her doctor kit on his leg and zipped him into her rolling suitcase which she says is his wheelchair. She has been taking very good care of him getting him on the mend.

I will say that these dolls seem very well made. They are substantial, yet small enough for children to tote around. And the yarn used for the hair is incredibly soft. They are about 18" tall, weigh less than two pounds, and are safe for ages two and up. They are even made in the USA.

There are 26 dolls to choose from, one for each letter of the alphabet. Alise and Mari are the most popular. Like I said, there are both girls and boys and you will find that there is probably one matching your child's ethnicity and individual looks. The Landon doll most matched my toddler.

In an age of tech toys that "do something" and loud toys that require battery after battery, I appreciate these old school rag dolls that seem to take us back to a simpler time when a kid could just use her imagination and play.

DISCOUNT:
Use coupon code AKBLOG25 for 25% off the entire purchase price on www.adorablekinders.com. Good through December 31, 2009.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: RAG DOLL
Prize: Choice of Adorable Kinders Rag Doll
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: Which rag doll do you like?
Enter By: November 26, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Extra Entry: Become a fan of Adorable Kinders of Facebook and fill out the entry form again telling us you did.

Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Please read our disclosure statement. Ganza sent me an Adorable Kinders Rag Doll for the purpose of this review.

Magic cars with magic seats

2009-11-18T23:59:00.002-05:00

Last spring I posted that I would be happy to go anywhere to test-drive a car. Someone must have been paying attention. Just a few months later, on the day before BlogHer, I was not only behind the wheel of several new cars, I was also sporting a fluorescent yellow vest, as well as eye and ear protection, to tour a Ford assembly plant outside Chicago. CityMama wrote the definitive post on it if you'd like to hear all about what we did and what we saw.

While there, I got to try out the next best thing to a talking car. I know Kitt was kind of bossy and all, but how come cars don't really talk (only GPS devices do)? It's all bells and chimes and beeps. You can hear some in this video, which shows me (once I master "putting the car in gear") parallel-parking without using my hands. I KNOW.

While the magic talking/beeping cars (and the Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion, ahhhhhh) were nice, the real reason I wanted to go to the Ford event was to see old bloggy friends (like my Full Mommy co-conspirator Leighann) and to meet new ones. And one of the new people I met was the unforgettable, inimitable Anissa Mayhew. I'm sending as many good thoughts and prayers her way as I can today, and every day until she's fully recovered and back to kicking butt and aiming low.

To enable her to attend the event, Mayberry Mom received a one-night stay in a hotel room and an incredibly long bus ride in Chicago traffic. Also a zip drive which she gave away because she has 100 of them already.

Please read our disclosure statement.

Sucre: Handmade Holiday Chocolates

2009-11-18T00:00:00.002-05:00

I tried to keep the box of Sucré bon-bons I received (free to review) a secret from my husband. Alas, he sniffed them out even from their hiding place waaaaaay in the back of the refrigerator behind some old condiments and leftover soup.

The good news is that I was able to taste each of the three special holiday flavors in the Sugar and Spice collection before my stash was discovered.

Candy Cane White Chocolate Truffle: Velvety white chocolate ganache infused with bits of peppermint candies in a pure white chocolate shell. Mmmmmm.
Eggnog Dark Chocolate Truffle: A mix of traditional holiday eggnog and white chocolate captured in a dark chocolate shell. Yuuummm.
Gingerbread Milk Chocolate Truffle: A special blend of holiday spices mixed with milk chocolate ganache, surrounded by a milk chocolate shell. O.M.G. ... perfection.

I love gingerbread and am always disappointed that I can't drink gingerbread lattes--since I don't like coffee. The gingerbread truffle is the perfect consolation prize. So good.

A friend did me a big favor a few days after I received these truffles, and I gave her several as a thank-you. Even without the lovely packaging (I stuck them in a random cardboard box with some parchment paper--sorry, Chef Tariq), the flavors won her over immediately. A box of these truffles would make a really special hostess gift or treat for a friend this winter. Or check out some of the other amazing-looking goodies available at Sucré (handmade marshmallows, anyone? Or how about a collection of 6 artisan chocolate bars?).

From Sucré: Sucré is a New Orleans-based confectioner known for delectable, hand-crafted artisan chocolates, as well as scrumptious pastries and macaroons. Sucré is located in the heart of the Garden District on Magazine Street. This holiday season, a portion of every dollar spent online will go to benefit the LA/SPCA.

Sucré is offering a discount code to Full Mommy readers: $5 off shipping (or shipping for $4.95). Code: SPCA

Mayberry Mom has one gingerbread truffle left and she is not telling anyone where it is. She received a box of truffles and one artisan chocolate bar free from Sucré to taste-test. Please read our disclosure statement.

Vincent Shoes

2009-11-17T00:00:00.004-05:00

When Vincent offered to send a pair of shoes for my daughter to go back-to-school I knew I would have a difficult time deciding which ones to select. They are all so cute. Shoes or boots? And what color?

I left it up to my daughter since she would be the one wearing them. A girl after my own heart, she chose red boots. A girl can never have enough red shoes!

What's neat about Vincent shoes are the names and descriptions of each pair. The Linda boots that my daughter selected are described:

When we first met Linda, we were fascinated with the whimsical tales she wove. Her stories were so fanciful, and she expressed them so dramatically … dancing around the playroom as she mocked the different characters. The shoes that adorn her feet need to be a bit quirky and highly entertaining. Once you see the Linda boot, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of her whimsy. So whether your little girl loves unicorns and princess rescues or knights in shining armor and sword fights, her love of all things fairy tale-ish will be reflected in the floating hearts on Linda.

Perfect for her because she loves telling stories, dancing, and most of all, unicorns!

My daughter will be stylin' in these great boots that look great with jeans, leggings, skirts, and dresses. She's ready for cool weather. And as always, I am impressed with the quality of the shoes and attention to detail.

At Vincent's online store, you can shop by model, gender, color, occasion, and size. And they have shoes to fit your kids from birth through early grade school: infant (1-4), toddler (4-11), and child sizes (12-3.5). Not sure about what size your kid wears? Print out their shoe fitter guide and see how your child measures up.

Read my other review of Vincent Shoes. Every pair of Vincents that my kids have worn still have life in them after my kids feet had outgrown them.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She loves shoes, especially red ones.

Please read our disclosure statement. Vincent supplied me with a pair of shoes for the purpose of this review.

Mutsy Grow Up! Booster Seat

2009-11-16T00:00:00.003-05:00

My toddler was suddenly resistant to sitting in his booster seat. The same booster seat his sister had used. It was a hard plastic booster that was maybe proving to be a little uncomfortable. Maybe he just needed a change or maybe he wanted to feel more grown up. I don't know. All I know is he wouldn't sit in the booster.

Mutsy sent me a Grow Up! booster seat and I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. I don't know if just having a new booster did the trick or if the Mutsy is substantially more comfortable, but he'll actually sit in his booster at the table now.

My older child sat in the Grow Up! one day and commented on how nice it felt. Granted, she's beyond the booster seat days, but she said it was nice and cushy.

The Grow Up! seat comes in six great colors and retails for just under $60 (see discount code below). The five-point harness will keep your little wiggle worm in his seat. It was quite easy for me to attach to our four-legged chair.

(From the company:)
This flexible seat reducer with base allows your baby to sit comfortably on the average grown-up chair. A clever harness makes sure your child can be fastened safely. This bright and modern looking seat is suitable for children up to 4 years of age.

Mutsy has a new stroller called the Transporter. Looks pretty cool. I dare say our stroller days are almost over.

DISCOUNT:
Readers of The Full Mommy can receive a 10% discount off of any order at Mutsy using the code tfm10.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Please read our disclosure statement. Mutsy provided me with a Grow Up! booster to use for the purpose of this review.

70th Anniversary Madeline

2009-11-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

It seems as if the toy world is bilingual these days. It's great that my kids know a little Spanish, but I'm a French speaker and I always feel a little jilted.

That's why I love Madeline. Not only do I get to show off my accent (gotta love high school French), but while reading the books I can point to illustrations of places I visited in Paris (again...high school French!).

In an old house in Paris
That was covered in vines
Lived twelve little girls
In two straight lines.

Did you know that Madeline is celebrating her 70th anniversary? That's what, four generations of Madeline readers? Madeline is truly a girl that even grandmas can relate to with their grandchildren.

My five-year-old daughter enjoyed listening to me read her the original Madeline book by Ludwig Bemelmans. I know they say you can't judge a book by it's cover, but when she saw it she said it must be good because it has a silver medal. It's a Caldecott Honor Book.

(Though my observant child wondered why the illustrations of Madeline portray a blond girl, while the doll is a red head.)

In honor of Madeline's anniversary, Kids Preferred has a line of dolls that your children will love to cuddle as you read them the stories. The doll pictured here is the 13.5 inch dressable Madeline in her signature blue school outfit. You can even buy additional outfits for her.

Kids Preferred sent me the doll and book to share with my child. My little girl loves the details of this doll (even giggling when she saw her underpants!). She needed a little help to get her dressed again once removing her clothing (the hat nor shoes come off). And her grandma loves having another girly toy in the house.

The Madeline books and dolls are timeless classics that young and old can share together.

If you would like to purchase the Madeline doll shown here, or the books, visit independent toy stores such as Live and Learn and La Petite Tica.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: MADELINE
Prize: Choice of the 70th Anniversary Dressable Madeline Doll, Madeline 9" Beanie, or Genevieve 8" Beanie
Number of Winners: one
Entry Question: Did you take a language in high school and if so, which one?
Enter By: November 23, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She speaks French, but her Spanish is limited to what she's learned on Dora.

Please read our disclosure statement.

PictureItPostage

2009-11-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

You took such care to select the perfect holiday cards or birth announcements to send to friends and family. I've got a way to make these letters just a little more personal: PictureItPostage.

That's right, even your stamps can say "Just look at how cute my kids are!"

I was given a gift code to try out the service for myself. Ordering from PictureItPostage was so simple. I uploaded a photo of my kids, adjusted it by zooming in and centering it, and then ordered. The turn around time was also very quick.

When I showed the stamps to my husband, he thought they were pretty cool, too.

I am going to use our set of stamps on our holiday cards this year.

A set of 20 personalized stamps from PictureItPostage is about $18.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: POSTAGE
Prize: A Set of 20 PictureItPostage Stamps
Number of Winners: Five!
Entry Question: Besides a photo, what else can you put on a stamp? (Hint: think about business.)
Enter By: November 18, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Tuesday DVD Round Up

2009-11-10T00:00:00.029-05:00

Wow, there are so many new DVD's to choose from. As you make your holiday shopping lists, maybe some of these would be great to pop in stockings or hide beneath the tree.

This week I have five new release DVD's to show you that will entertain toddlers through grade school kids (or older!).

(Each of these were sent to me by the company to watch with my family. All descriptions below are from the DVD's.)

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Relive your favorite Sesame Street moments with this one of a kind Sesame Street Collection! Everyone remembers the familiar words to the Sesame Street theme song, and the even more familiar tune, but how much do you really know about the world's most famous street? When did Elmo first begin speaking in that world-famous falsetto? Can you name the musician that sang Slimey into space? Which Muppet was most distraught by Mr. Hooper's passing? Who is the voice behind Abby Cadabby? Can you guess which clip was voted the fan favorite in an online poll?

Find the answers and much more packed into this special anniversary DVD set, which includes clips from all 40 seasons, interviews with cast and crew, including Jim Henson, as well as amazing behind-the-scenes peeks at how Muppet magic is created.

Sesame Street: Elmo's Animal Adventures
Animals are on the loose on Sesame Street! Elmo invites you to join him and his animal friends as they embark on three fun-filled adventures. Help Elmo and Tilly find Little Bo Peep’s missing cow by following clues and working together. Then use animal facts to help Elmo & Abby succeed in the “Find The Amphibian" game show. PLus, camp out with Elmo in a wildreness adventure as he learns how animals and little monsters are different. Includes special guest appearances by Cameron Diaz and Patricia Arquette.

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure
All the ponies cannot wait for the Winter Wishes festival where the Wishing Star grants each pony one special wish. But when the Wishing Star disappears, they go on a journey to find it. During their adventure, they learn what it means for wishes to really come true! But will they make it back in time for the festival? Join Pinkie Pie and all her pony friends on their journey as they discover that friendship can make wishes come true.

The Strawberry S hortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit
Catch all the fun and excitement of Strawberry Shortcake and friends in an all-new, full-length DVD adventure! In Sky;s the Limit, Strawberry is working on a new smoothie recipe for her cafe when a big storm hits Berry Bitty City and puts their water supply in jeopardy.

Now, it's up to the girls to find a way to get the water they need to save Berry Bitty City. Throughout the process, the girls learn a meaningful lesson about teamwork and how it's okay to make mistakes. When you have good friends and work together, berry magical things can happen!

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
In the coolest ICE AGE adventure yet, Manny and the herd discover a lost world of ferociously funny dinosaurs, inlcuding a cranky T. rex who's got a score to settle with Sid! Meanwhile, Scat goes nuts over the beautiful Scratte, but is she trying to win his heart- or steal his acorn?

Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo & Soothing Relief Creamy Wash

2009-11-09T00:01:00.007-05:00

Ah yes, winter is coming. My lips are chapped and my skin is shriveling. The cold weather months are hard on everyone, especially the little ones. They need a change in routine when the weather takes a cold turn. Mine need the most gentle soaps and shampoos I can find.

When Aveeno offered to send me samples of Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo & Soothing Relief Creamy Wash I was really happy to try them. I had used other baby products before, but these were new to me. I know you don't need to technically wash a baby every day, but having two day care kids, I am a big proponent of daily bath time rituals.

First up was the Soothing Relief Creamy Wash. It passed the first test: It made bubbles when I poured some under the running water. Bubbles are very important to a baby's bath. Second test: It pours out like a creme but suds up easily in a washcloth. Third and most important test: The gentle factor. No harsh soap residues or dry patches when we were done. (Also, any parent can tell how harsh a baby soap is by judging how their own hands feel after bath time. Mine felt great.) Sold.

Moving on we tried the Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo. My baby like many others I'm sure, hates hair washing time. It passed the first test: It rinses easily. Second test: It smells lovely. It's an almond/honey scent. You can notice it, but it's not overpowering or artificial like some others (watermelon, I'm looking at you.) Third and most important test: It left the kids hair clean and shiny. I actually think, although I have no way to really measure it, that the Aveeno shampoo helped my 15 month old's cradle cap situation. Extra cool.

WIN IT!
Number of Winners: 1
Entry Question: Visit the Aveeno Baby website here and tell us which baby product you are most interested to try.
Enter By: 11/19/09
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

So I loved these. Both of them. There are more products available from Aveeno Baby. Wander over and take a look and tell us which you are interested in for a chance to win your own Aveeno Baby product gift.

Cooking Light for $5!

2009-11-08T22:00:00.002-05:00

This week on Amazon, Cooking Light magazine is only $5. You read that right, five dollars!

At that price you can check off quite a few people on your holiday shopping list.

(Thanks to My Little Patch of Sunshine for the great tip.)

Have You Found PlanToys?

2009-11-08T00:00:00.005-05:00

Have you begun your holiday shopping? Um yeah, me neither. (Or kudos to you if you are ahead of the game!)

It's so hard to know each year which toys on your children's wish lists will have longevity. I have found that the open-ended toys tend to last a little longer before being forgotten. Both of my children love toys that can be played with in different ways, rather than rigid toys that are meant to be played with in only one intended way.

I also like toys that both of my kids can play with, whether that means that both can play with it now or it can eventually be handed down to my second child. An added plus in my book are gender-neutral toys (or those that can easily be adapted for a boy or girl).

I am also moving more and more toward safe and non-toxic toys, those made from recycled materials, and wooden toys (that maybe I can even save for grandchildren!).

I have been perusing a few websites trying to formulate a list and I am drawn to the PlanToys website. We were recently at a children's museum and I fell in love with the PlanToys dollhouse.

Have you discovered PlanToys? Their lineup includes baby toys, developmental toys, educational toys, and wooden toys.

In my quest for great toys, I even became a fan of PlanToys in Facebook. (You can too!)

Look for an upcoming review and giveaway of one of the toys made by PlanToys.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

MADD's The Power of Parents

2009-11-06T00:00:00.006-05:00

Nationwide on Power of Parents, It's Your Influence by MADD from MADD Online on Vimeo.

My oldest child is a good ten years from being handed the keys to the car. But that doesn't mean that I don't think about drinking and driving. Someone very close to my family was hit by a drunk driver sustaining injuries that eventually caused his death. It was senseless and could have been prevented had the person just handed over his keys or taken a cab.

If your children are getting close to driving or already are, it's important to talk with them about driving and alcohol. I know this may be an awkward conversation to begin, but there are resources available to help open up communication, like the Power of Parents website (see video above).

Also look to these resources from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD):

Safe travels!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of MADD. A donation was made to MADD in my name to thank me for taking the time to participate.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

New Releases: Disney Pixar's UP

2009-11-05T11:26:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love balloons? We all do, right? While they might not have any lines in this film, the balloons sort of act as a lovely additional character in this entertaining and touching new release.

In this animated comedy, a 78-year-old inventor (Carl) ties a gigantic bunch of balloons to his house and flies away, unknowingly, bringing an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer (Russell) with him on his adventure.

Along the way this unlikely pair meets up with a colorful group of characters, including a 13 foot bird and a pack of talking dogs. As always, UP continues the Disney tradition of life-like graphics and amazing picture quality. You'll also recognize the voices of talent such as Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer.

This film is by all means a comedy and I am not going to spoil anything for anyone by saying I also shed a few tears. It's a great story that reminds all of us that "Adventure is out there."

UP is available in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack (a nice feature since you just know DVD's will be a thing of the past in the all too near future.) Thanks to Disney Pixar for sending me a copy of this movie to review.

This was written by AmyJo. You can visit her in Binkytowne.

Please read our disclosure statement.

New Disney Releases: Snow White and Tinker Bell

2009-11-04T00:01:00.006-05:00

Here's my Full Mommy confession: I am tired of race cars, trucks and robots. Sometimes I want to want to watch a chick flick.

Since most of my T.V. viewing is done during daytime hours my choices are strictly G rated. This is where Disney comes in. I recently received two movies newly released on DVD: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.

I don't know that I have ever been able to watch Snow White on DVD, much less in the format that it has just been released in, which is the Diamond Blu-Ray version. The picture is advertised as "Flawless" and I have to agree it is. For the tech savvy, the Diamond edition is presented in 7.1 Digital Theater Surround Sound. I don't really know what that means, but I agree the picture and sound quality is second to none.

So high quality video is very nice, but doesn't do much for you if you don't want to watch the film. No problems there. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is just as enchanting now as I remember it being many years ago. I dare you to watch it and not sing Hi-Ho for the rest of the day. Go ahead. Try it. Bet you're humming it right now.

After watching a Disney film I was very familiar with, I was interested to see something from Disney that was a bit more contemporary. I had never met TinkerB ell and I didn't know much about the fairy series.

In Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Tinker Bell’s greatest adventure yet takes place in Autumn, as the fairies are on the mainland changing the colors of the leaves, tending to pumpkin patches, and helping geese fly south for the winter. From there, the plot got somewhat complicated involving things like blue moons and pixie dust, but at the heart of the story is friendship and adventure; two themes every good chick flick needs.

Both Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure come with bonus materials and features, are available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and are in stores now.

This was written by AmyJo. You can visit her in Binkytowne.

Holiday DVD's That Are Sure To Be A HIT

2009-11-03T00:00:00.025-05:00

My children, two and five, love the characters featured on the DVD's produced by HIT Entertainment. In anticipation of the holiday season, HIT sent our family several DVD's to watch together. Though there's no snow on the ground yet, we're getting in the holiday spirit with these winter-themed DVD's.

HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends
This DVD has a little something for everyone. Of course my Thomas-obsessed son loved the episode featuring his favorite engine, but he also enjoyed the Bob the Builder show. My daughter loves watching Pingu (a show we only get to see on On Demand) and thought Kipper was cute.

(From the DVD:) Bundle up with your favorite preschool pals in these fun-filled wintertime tales. Join Barney, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Thomas & Friends, and Kipper as they enjoy playful adventures in the snow. Learn the true meaning of Christmas with your best friend, Barney, build a snowman with Bob, go sledding with Kipper, whistle down the tracks with Thomas, and laugh along as Pingu plays hilarious tricks on his friends.

Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express
This DVD was released on November 3, 2009 and comeswith an exclusive Take Along Thomas engine with Santa hat and snowflake garland. The new engine excited my son because a little boy can never have too many engines, right? This is a nice collection of some of the pre-CGI episodes that your little guy will surely enjoy.

(From the DVD:) All aboard for snowmen, Christmas trees and festive train rides! When you ride the rails with your jolly friends, you never know what to expect. Enjoy exciting adventures filled with lucky trucks, Christmas puddings, surprise parties and much, much more. Join Henry, Emily, Percy, and Thomas for trainloads of fun in the HOLIDAY EXPRESS!

Thomas & Friends: Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
Okay, if you haven't had enough Thomas or are looking for a more comprehensive gift, this three DVD gift set will keep your guy entertained for hours. I think our favorite episode is when Percy is mistaken for Jack Frost!

(From the DVD:) There’s fun around every turn in these joyful wintertime adventures! Catch the holiday spirit as Thomas & Friends prepare for the grand opening of the Toy Workshop. Laugh and play along as Percy tries to fool his friends into believing he’s Jack Frost. And hold on tight for some of Thomas’ most thrilling races, rescues and runaways in this heartwarming holiday collection.

Bob the Builder: Building Crew Holiday Collection
Does your child like the Can-Do Crew? This three DVD Bob the Builder gift set has snow and ice and is entertaining on a cold winter day.

(From the DVD:) Just in time for the holidays, discover why "the fun is in getting it done” in these action-packed, fun-filled adventures! Join Bob and the Can- Do Crew as they rescue their friend from a winter storm in "Bob’s White Christmas.” Then it’s time to build a log cabin and smooth the ice rink for the Winter Games. And finally, come along as Bob and Scoop hunt for buried treasure – and make some amazing discoveries – in this one-of-a-kind collection that's the perfect holiday treat for Bob the Builder fans.

Also from HIT Entertainment for the holidays is the Barney: Tee-riffic Holiday Collection, which also includes three DVD's.

(From the DVD:) Bundle up with your best friend Barney for this special collection of wintertime favorites! Take a musical journey to the North Pole with Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop in "Night Before Christmas." Sing along to your favorite Barney tunes in the fun-filled game show, "Can You Sing that Song?” And join Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends and more for the magic of "Winter Wonderland” in this tee- riffic holiday gift set!

Take a look at more DVD's featuring your children's favorite characters from HIT Entertainment, which are regularly featured on The Full Mommy.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: HIT Entertainment sent us these DVD's to watch together.

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories

2009-11-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

This time of year I am sure that I get strange looks from the people in the cereal aisle. I methodically remove Cheerios boxes from the shelves to find the packages that have the books that we don't yet have.

We don't buy any character or sugary cereal for our household. Our poor kids (that was sarcasm) don't usually get cereal that comes with a treat. But we buy lots of Cheerios and it's a bonus when the box comes with a free book.

Once again this year Cheerios is giving away six million children's books inside their boxes through Spoonfulls of Stories. The books are for children 3 to 8 years and include a brand new "Trucktown" series book that is only available inside Cheerios boxes.

And what's really cool is that this year all the books are in both English and Spanish.

I was lucky when I was asked to be a panelist on a GNO Twitter party with authors Karma Wilson and Derek Anderson and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser. It was fun talking books with these experts and with all the other moms who read to their children daily.

All five books this year are from Simon & Schuster Children´s Publishing:

Junkyard Fort, written by Jon Scieszka, and illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and Dave Gordon: Join Gabriella, Jack, Melvin, Ted, Lucy and the other Trucktown characters as they make their own fort, using things found in the junkyard. Ages 4-8.

Tea for Ruby, written by The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser: Wherever Ruby goes, a bit of disaster seems to follow. But one sunny morning, things change when the postman brings Ruby an amazing invitation: would she like to have tea with the Queen? Ruby needs to polish her manners, and quickly. Ages 4-8.

Sleepyhead, written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by John Segal: In this rhythmic bedtime story, a cat is the parent and a teddy bear is the child who doesn't want to go to bed. All ready for bed with teeth brushed and story read, Sleepyhead teddy tries anything to prolong his bedtime; books and his quilt provide ample fodder for his imagination. Ages 3-7.

Ballyhoo Bay, written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Derek Anderson: Mira Bella, an artist who teaches painting and sculpture, loves Ballyhoo Bay and what it offers: sun, sea, sand, and sky. But one gray day a billboard arrives, announcing an impending development that would take all the fun out of the place. Read along to see if Mira Bella and her art can save the day and Ballyhoo Bay! Ages 4-8.

What´s Under the Bed?, written and illustrated by Joe Fenton: Young Fred cannot stop worrying about the scary creature that might be hiding beneath his bed. Finally summoning the courage to peer under his bed, Fred, with his cumbersome glasses, sees that the only thing there is Ted, his friendly Teddy Bear! Ages 3-7.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: CHEERIOS
Prize: Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories gift pack, which includes a set each of the five Spoonfuls of Stories books, a box of Cheerios, and a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: What is your story time ritual with your kids?
Enter By: November 10, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She has more children's books than the public library.

Cheerios provided me with the free product, information, and a prize pack through MyBlogSparkTM.

Holiday Shopping 2009

2009-11-01T14:47:00.003-05:00

The Full Mommy is looking for products and companies to feature for the 2009 holiday shopping season. If you are a company or PR representative and have a product that would be a good fit for review on The Full Mommy, please send us an e-mail at fullmommy (at) gmail (dot) com or use our simple product submission form and we will consider your proposal. Our readers appreciate discounts and giveaways (these generally garner more interest). Please read our product review policy for more information.

We are particularly looking for toys, games, books, clothing, etc. that meet any or all these criteria:

Imaginative play
Skill building
Eco-friendly
Child-friendly (no BPA, PVC, or phthalates, etc.)
Not made in China
Appropriate for ages birth through 14 years
Parent-owned/operated companies
Boutique businesses
Etsy stores

Also consider placing an ad in our sidebar. For an additional fee, we will link to the product review in the sidebar in a special holiday shopping guide section that will remain in place until January 1, 2010.

Donate a Coat, Get a Lands' End Discount

2009-10-30T00:00:00.002-04:00

(If you are reading in a feed reader, you may have to click over to watch the video. Thanks!)

It's getting chilly in my part of the country and it's time to break out the winter coats. My kids have no doubt outgrown theirs from last year. They are gently used, but still have life left in them.

Wouldn't it be great to pass on your coats to someone who needs help staying warm this winter?

Lands' End has teamed up with the National Coalition for the Homeless for a program they are calling the Big Warm-up. Through this program, people across the country can donate their gently used coats which will be redistributed to the more than 3.5 million homeless women, men in children in the U.S. right now.

Beginning October 29 until November 30, Lands’ End is hosting Big Warm-up coat donation sites at its 252 Lands’ End Shops at Sears and 13 Lands’ End Inlets. Donated coats will be distributed in nearby communities.

As a thank you for your donation, Lands' End is giving 20 percent off the purchase of a new coat for each one donated.

Visit WWW.BIGWARMUP.COM to see how each coat can warm a heart, track donations, find donation sites, watch an inspiring video and spread the word.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Pediped Shoes to Grow With Your Child

2009-10-28T00:00:00.003-04:00

I like to purchase quality shoes for my children that will make it through a season without falling apart and that will give them the support and flexibility that small feet need.

What I don't like are shoes that are outgrown so quickly that they look like they have never been worn. I feel like I've wasted my money.

Pediped asked if they could outfit one of my children in a pair of shoes for fall. I printed out their shoe sizing guide and told them what size I thought my son would wear.

When I received the Jake Flex shoes I feared they would be too big. But we put the included extra footbed inserts into the shoes, which snugged them right up. When the shoes start getting tight with the extra insert, I can take them out and get a few more months out of them.

My son's new pediped's have taken him to the zoo, to the pumpkin patch, to school and all over town. I love the smart styling (they don't look babyish). They are also easy to get on and off with their stretchy "shoestrings" and hook and loop closure.

My son's new shoes are hip, but you should see the girls' shoes. I'm a sucker for a cute red shoe!

Pediped is currently running a celebrity auction with proceeds to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

(From pediped:)
More than 50 well-known entertainers and athletes will participate in Stars for a Wish, an online auction of autographed pediped® baby shoes to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The auction will run Oct. 25-Nov. 5 on Charity Buzz. Celebrities who signed pediped® baby shoes for the auction include: Jennie Garth and Heidi Klum and celebs from movies, television, and sports. Bidding will start at $250 for the signed shoes. Recipients will receive the shoes attractively displayed in a cherry-finished shadow box or clear acrylic box complete with an engraved plaque.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She has a thing for shoes.

Disclosure: Pediped sent me a pair of shoes for my son to wear.

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo

2009-10-26T00:00:00.009-04:00

I guess you can judge a book by it's cover.

When my five-year-old took a look at the front of our new book, she said, "Oh. She's doesn't look very good."

With all the colds and flu circulating right now, Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo is a very timely book. It seems like half of my child's class has been out sick with one thing or the other and this book helps explains how germs can be spread.

We follow Felicity as she goes to the zoo, wipes green gook into her hand, and then touches every single animal in sight. Needless to say, every animal marked with her green hand print catches what she's got!

My five-year-old enjoyed the book's illustrations and text (and was even able to read some of it). My two-year-old was equally interested in the animals at the zoo and making there noises as we turned each page.

From the author: E. S. Redmond was inspired to write this, her first book, after a trip with her children to a petting zoo. She says, "I remember watching all these smiling, wobbling toddlers surrounding the animals. Every little nose was running, and the sheep resembled very large mounds of tissue. It struck me as altogether funny and ironic that the hand soap was mounted on the fence at the exit. Nice for us, not so great for the sheep." E. S. Redmond lives in Massachusetts.

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo is a good introduction to preschool and younger school age kids on how germs spread and how this widespread illness could have been avoided had she just used a tissue and washed her hands.

Oh, and maybe stayed home when she was sick!

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: Candlewick Press sent this book for me to read with my children.

Halloween Safety Tips from Safe Kids USA and FedEx

2009-10-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

Halloween is my family's favorite holiday. We attend several parties and of course go Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. As a parent you want to make sure your little ghouls and goblins are safe as they haunt the neighborhood after dark. One thing we always do is clip our flashing bicycle light to our daughter's costume.

Moira Donahue is a child pedestrian expert. She is working with FedEx and Safe Kids USA to help make kids safe this Halloween. Here are her tips for both pedestrians and drivers for All Hallow's Eve:

For kids:

Always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10
Only trick-or-treat in familiar areas that are well lit
Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
Look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don’t run, when crossing streets
Make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up
Walk on sidewalks or paths; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible
Never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars
Wear light-colored, flame-retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers
Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls
Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers
Wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child’s vision

Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. FedEx reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:

Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods
Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road
Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances
Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways
Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians

To help make your family safe this year, we are giving away three Trick-or-Treat bags filled with safety goodies. Have fun on Halloween!

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: SAFETY
Prize: Trick-or-Treat Bag filled with safety goodies
Number of Winners: Three
Enter By: October 27
Entry Form:
Loading...
Because this is a time sensitive prize, we are asking for your shipping info on the entry form. This info will not be used for any other purpose other than to quickly ship the prize to winners in time for Halloween. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: These tips are provided by FedEx and Safe Kids USA. I was provided with Trick-or-Treat bags for my children.

Spooky Raisin Spiders

2009-10-23T00:00:00.009-04:00

My daughter loves two things: cooking and Halloween. What better way to combine her two passions than with a recipe that gets her hands on in the kitchen making a spooky treat.

California Raisins sent us all the ingredients that we needed to make Spooky Raisin Spiders and we had fun whipping up a batch and sharing them with the rest of the family.

Come on over to Multi-Minding Mom to get the recipe and see our results and then enter below to win all the ingredients you need to scare up your own batch of Spooky Raisin Spiders. (Hint: Look for the number of servings.)

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: Raisins
Prize: California Raisins and all the ingredients needed to make Spooky Raisin Spiders
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: How many servings does the recipe make? (Click over to see the recipe.)
Enter By: October 30, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She regularly writes about cooking on Fridays.