Moshi Monsters - Mo Pod - Great Easter Basket Idea

Yesterday I wrote about Moshi Monsters and their interactive online world chock full of free kid games. I also mentioned a Moshi Monsters Mo Pod Giveaway coming up today. So without further ado, here we go.

Moshi Monster Mo Pods are the cutest things ever. When I received the shipment from their awesome PR group I was heading out to get Handsome from school. In the car, Goddess begged me to open one. I told her when we got to school, we could ask the office staff for a scissor. We did. As we opened the package, everyone who walked in was interested in hearing about this little guy.

There is no longer a reason to miss a text, message, or email because you didn't hear your cell phone. Mo Pod works off your 3G network on your cell phone. It happens to me all the time, my cell is in my pocketbook or pocket, I eventually pull it out and see all the emails, texts and messages I missed.

Mo Pod, attaches to whatever, a button, your necklace, your rear view mirror, your backpack or wherever and everytime your phone receives "something" the little Moshi guy, spins and lights up. The cutest thing ever.

I have been wearing mine for 2 days and everyone is interested in hearing about him and asking for my business card so they can enter this giveaway and learn more.

These little guys are great alternative to candy in your child's Easter Basket. Especially as your kids get older, it is hard to figure out what to give them. These guys sell for under $7.00.

Ok, now for the video...give me a break...you know how uncomfortable I am in front of the camera, so please be kind. 

Book Nook Corner - Children's Books - A Review

Thanks to Blue Apple Books I received two books to review and write about.

Emily & Alex: Naughty and Nice (Which hit the shelves today)-- Emily and Alex are twins. They have the same birthday. They have the same last name. But they can be as different as night and day.

Meet Emily and Alex, fraternal twins who love being different. Emily is clean, Alex is dirty; Emily likes dots, Alex likes stripes; Emily is noisy, Alex is quiet. Acclaimed artist Barroux makes his Blue Apple Books debut with two charming and witty books of opposites, featuring a pair of lovable twins who are double the trouble and double the fun.

Barroux studied photography, art, sculpture, and architecture in France at the famous École Estienne and École Boule. He went on to work as an art director in Paris and Montreal. While in Canada, Barroux began illustrating by creating linocut images, and he is now well known for his children's book illustrations.

In A Nutshell: What makes these books so amazing is that my 4 year old who doesn't read yet, CAN read these books. Reading starts early and these books are perfect for building confidence. Each page has a picture and a word.  The word describes the picture! It was so fun to watch my daughter's face as she read the entire book!

These books are perfect for 1-5 year olds.

The graphics are sweet
The words, big and bold
The colors fun
The book nice and sturdy
The price compatible

ABC Wednesday - I is for Intriguing

This week ABC Wednesday is "I"

Umm...what do I have for "I"?

This could be Intriguing

How about Innocent?


Or Iridescent (white van with sunset reflection)


As in Indent/Imprint (this is my son's face indent in the snow)

Moshi Monsters Review - Kid Friendly Website - Giveaway to Come

In A Nutshell:  This is an educational, fun way for your child to spend time online. It was easy to set up too. We got on the website, adopted a pet, dressed it up, played with it, customized it's house and started searching around. The games are great. My soon to be 5 year old loves the game and was dying to play but the games are more kids who can read. I can read them to her but since the games are timed she ran out of time. Personally, I love the games. There are some great logic games and puzzles for kids to play.

What I Can Tell You: Moshi Monsters are cute. My daughter loves them and likes playing in their room. She also enjoys walking around Moshi World and visiting others homes.

What I Can't Tell You: If the Underground Disco, Port and Gift Island are all that and a bag of chips. You need a membership to go there (this is for the Elite Moshi Monster users).  If my son ends up loving this (he has yet to play), I may get a membership (it is only $5.95 to try for a month).

Music Monday - Summer Breeze

This week, my first at Music Monday, I am posting Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft. The reason why, well...today I was playing some 70's music on my Sirius Radio and my daughter said, "what is this song called". I told her and she said, "I like the way it sounds." I told her it was the music I grew up with and that I loved it too. My baby likes Seals and Croft....nice.

How To Never Look Fat Again By Charla Krupp Blog Tour

Maria:  Charla, I am 4’11” and a size 10 with larger breasts and bigger legs, short of losing the necessary 15 pounds what can I do to look thinner and taller? 

Charla: You’ll want to check on the sections called BIG BUST and HEAVY CALVES…there are hundreds of tips for you. For starters, go get bra fitted so that you are looking as small as possible on top. For legs, don’t wear micro-minis…do wear a nice pump in a nude color.

Maria:    What is the best way to find your proper bra size?

Charla: There is no way around it, you must get bra-fitted in a good department store such as Bloomie’s. 

Maria: Should someone under 5”0” wear a full length winter coat? 

Charla:  NO! 

Maria:  How can you avoid muffin top if you wear today’s clingy shirts?

Charla: Wear a shaping camisole underneath your tops…and wear the Spanx Bra-llelujah! dedicated to making back fat disappear. And, if your shirt fabric is super clingy, maybe you need to go up a size.

Maria: How can I make my short, chubby legs look longer if I am wearing pants and short heels? 

Charla: Don’t wear short heels…wear the highest heels possible. Maybe go with a platform which is easier to walk in than a stiletto. Pants should be on the long side. No capris, they’ll make you look shorter and fatter. 

Maria:  I could go on and on asking short questions?

Charla: I’m petite, too, so I know the problems…look at the sections in each chapter titled: If you’re petite…lots of great tips for you in the book.

Hopefully, after I make the baby dinner I can get back on and hook all these links up.

Mommy and Me Monday - Digital Scrapbooking

I told you last week that I had once spent some time Digital Scrapbooking.

Here is a page I made of Goddess and Me.

Monday Morning Meme Collaboration

This week I have decided to combine some of my favorite Monday memes into one object. When I had Goddess I noticed this little bitty baby in a walnut shell at a Brick Brack store and had to have her. She reminded me of my baby girl with her cute pixie hair and skinny, little legs.

For Aileni's Monochrome Weekend, I have taken the same object and placed it in my little cooler to snap a simple shot.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: Judd's Merged Meme

1. What were doing 10 years ago? I was 33, not knowing who I was, feeling lonely, unfulfilled and alone. Unsure of my future and thinking that life was short.

2. Five snacks that you enjoy in a perfect, non weight-gaining world: chocolate chip cookies, chocolate, peanut butter, BBQ chips, Dip,

3. Five things you would do if you were a billionaire: I would pay off all my families debts, set up funds for all my nieces and nephews, start up a local soup kitchen for my area with possible housing facilities for dire straight families trying to get on their feet.

4. Three of your habits: Biting my nails, pacing while talking on the phone, kissing my kids.

5. Five jobs that you've have had: Secretary, Receptionist, Bartender, Data Entry, Mom

6. Five places that you've lived: New Jersey, New York, that is about it (35 moves between those states.

7. Five things that you did yesterday: Cooked, Showered, Cleaned up, Blogged, Hosted a giveaway

8. Five people you would want to get to know more about: Everyone I know...plus the next people I meet. I love learning about people which is why I started my meme, Memory Rewind (It is a lonely meme, so feel free to participate)

9. Abortion: for or against it? I am pro-choice and would never tell someone how they should live nor would I want someone to have a baby they wouldn't want.  It isn't something I would do but I believe choice.

10. Do you think the world would fail with a female president?  We simply need a good president, the right president for the job! Male or female....

11. Do you believe in the death penalty? Yes! Someone people cannot be rehabilitated and should not be allowed to ever have the chance to go free.

12. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already? I personally have never ever smoked nor do I think at 43 would it be a good time to do it. None of my current friends are smokers but in the past I knew quite a few who partook often.  There should be laws legalizing something that people are doing anyway. Why not have a law that limits the amount you are allowed to purchase? A Marijuana tax just like we have on cigarettes and a safe location to buy. 


13. Are you for or against premarital sex? We test drive the car we are going to buy, why shouldn't we test drive someone that we are supposed to be with until death do us part? But, I do believe people should be emotionally old enough.

14. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized? Live and let live, whatever.

15. Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA? Yup! They should have to pay taxes just like we do.

16. Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen? No

17. Should the war in Iraq be called off? I don't know enough of what is happening to weigh an opinion on this and neither do most of us. The only people who know are the government and the people on the inside.

18. Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree? Yes. I think we should all be able to live our lives how we want, we should also be able to say when we choose to go. Not for someone who can't mentally make this choice but for those who are sick yes...they should be able to have control over their end.

19. Do you believe in spanking your children? I don't believe in spanking but I have raised my hand once or ten times in my kids 6 years.  I thought "slap on your coolie" all the time.

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers? Nope! I welcome the differences in people.

Self Portrait Sunday - Dec 2005

Here is a picture of me and my very first baby girl Sandi. It would be our last Christmas together after 16 years together. Sandi was starting to get sick here. I had been bringing her to the doctor every week for saline injections and eventually I would have to bring her daily.

Sandi was a shy cat, as a kitten the douche bag I lived with never hit me but hit her as a kitten. He was crazy if he saw her on the furniture or hair on his clothes. We eventually broke up 2 years after getting Sandi because he wanted to get married. I was too young and was just starting to meet people in our area. He was very jealous of everyone in my life and would lie to my girlfriends when they called saying I wasn't home. He told me I could get the cat because I was always alone, having moved to NJ for him. It was Sandi and I in the beginning and in the end. She moved with me over 10 times. Poor thing! In the end it was her and I too!

Putting Sandi down was the hardest thing I ever had to do. She was dying and when they gave her the shot, she was gone in less than 2 minutes. The whole time I held her apologizing for her pain, my son (handsome) squirmed and moved in my belly. I remember how weird it was to hold my cat as she took her last breath, knowing that my son was thriving and ready to be born in just a few months.

Calling Alll Lovers Of Books, Especially Comic Books - Plus Author Interview

As a young girl (about 9) I was a big fan of Archie comics. After that, there was Bloom County, Calvin and Hobbes, and My absolute favorite The Far Side Gallery. Man I loved reading and comic books gave you the visual and the words. Even my photo albums started having word bubbles above the pictures.

This past week I received and read “The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy, I’d Hate To Be Made Out Of That Stuff.

There are only three things a reader has to know when encountering the moon inhabitants of
The Lunar Antics—
 

1. They have antennas.

2. They have flying saucers—although they don't always use them.

3. They are good in math.

What I Can Tell You:  Comic books are fun to read! Even kids who don't love reading, can quickly and easily get through a comic book and enjoy it. This alone is not a bad thing! Reading as we all know is very important. What is really great about Lunar Antics is that these comics are perfect for adults who like a little humor with their reading. There are so many adults friends that I know who never read anything. Sad but true. When I showed them “The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy, I’d Hate To Be Made Out Of That Stuff” most of them recalled loving comics as kids and wanted to borrow mine. I told them mine was spoken for my sister begged for it and I am sending it her way.

In A Nutshell: The aliens are funny the dialogue smart! They all remind me of characters from Seinfeld or Will and Grace.  Humans take themselves to seriously and this book and there were some laugh out loud moments.  Don't be surprised if you find yourself digging through your bins of books looking for your old comics. I fished out my Far Side Books and old calendars...to re-read.

Robert's book is great for kids and adults, as a mom I am always looking for things I can read with my kids.  My kids are only 4 and 6 so the dialogue is a tiny bit above them, but they love the pictures and I was able to paraphrase while still enjoying it myself. Great for 10+

I also had the opportunity to interview the author Robert Walters, here is how it went down:

So, Robert, when did you realize you wanted to write?

"When I was a child – but it was music I wrote!  My comics are a 21^st century profession."

Ah, so that's why the professor was a music professor? Or wasn't it? Am, I reading too much into this? 

Why comics?

"Because they are simple descriptions of life. I feel I am only scratching the surface of what you can do with a simple 4-panel cartoon. And of course it’s fun!"

What is your day job?

"This is my day job. I am promoting this book full time."

Wow, good for you. Hopefully we see a second edition

How do you fit writing into your schedule?

"Let’s just say it ain’t easy!"

What’s next?

"Another volume of comics hopefully in 2011 – but don’t hold me to it!"       

Awesome, we will, wouldn't do that to you but we can hope can't we?

So, Robert, thanks for speaking with me. Anything else you want my readers to know?

"Sure, they can check out this link of an interview I did for Jazma Magazine"

Camera Critters - 4.5 Pounds of Adorable

Here is my dog Zoe 2002 wearing the bib I got for my husband to tell him we were pregnant.

Friday Photo Flashback

Recently I started scrapbooking again (pictures coming), but before that, I used to do digital scrapping.

Here is Goddess in 2005! Not such a flashback but work with me here.

Seriously, is there anything cute than baby clothes?

Notice the little bitty angel wings I put on Goddess because she was my little angel baby. Not that she ever acted like one and still doesn't!!

Oh Lord, was I hot or what? My mother-in-law stepped in and said, you look like you still have a baby in your belly! Thanks....