My Life In Pics 8-17 to 8-21

I am soooo behind as usual. As I sit here trying to get down 8 oz of pure Aloe Vera juice on a rainy Sunday my thoughts go to all the things I didn't get to over the summer.  Life got in the way and Summer was a bummer but the last few weeks have been great so I wanted to play catch up since I have time. I should be reading one of my review books (they are backing up) but since I just dropped my daughter off at a friends to watch movies with some of her closest and the boys are busy with football I thought why not!?

Aug 17 - Goddess got her twice a year hair cut. She was not the happiest because it was time to take off a few inches. Usually she gets a trim but it was getting nasty at the ends.  Our stylist is the best. I have been going to her for 12 years and we trust her with long hair PLUS she is the blow out Queen. I don't know how she does it but our hair looks amazing when we walk out.

Aug 18 - This is my girl! She loves taking photos as much as I did/do! I always had a camera in my hands. She saw a Garden Orb Spider and ran in to get one of my cameras.

Aug 19 - The braces are finally on! My girl has two canines that have stuck out forever. Her lips use to get caught on them and it was taking so long for all the baby teeth to come out. They are finally on and and 2 months they are already aligned. Now we work on the overbite.  I had just told her she looks nice with braces and this was the face I got!

Aug 20 - My daughter go this awful lighting photo but I love it because this is how Luna and I usually spend our time together. Forehead or nose to forehead or head. There is something so relaxing about our heads being together. There are 10 Scientific Reasons You Should Have A Cat in case you needed to know. 

Aug 21 - This is George! Do you need another reason as to why we cat sit!? George is cute. His family are friends. We enjoy spending time with him and his furry sibs and miss them when we are done sitting.

Halloween's Here! Are Your Teeth Ready?

Dentists love Halloween as much as the next person, but the holiday can pose a sticky situation for your teeth. However, there are ways to enjoy tonight's treats without destroying your pearly whites. 

Here are some tips:

* This may sound counterintuitive. But let kids eat as much of their candy as they want tonight. It's easier on the teeth than eating treats in 20 to 30 minute intervals, day after day. 

* Share the wealth. Chances are your kids are going to bring home way more candy than they need. Consider taking some to co-workers, or finding a local dental office that is offering a candy buy-back program.

* Make sure to brush and floss. As always, after the candy binge, make sure your kids properly brush and floss to get rid of all of that sugar and residue.

* Take control after Trick-or-Treat night. Dispense treats after Halloween in one-time sittings so that your kids are binging on sugary treats all day and night


Dr. Jamie Reynolds (www.AskDrReynolds.com) is recognized on an annual basis as one of the top orthodontists in metro Detroit. His book, World Class Smiles Made in Detroit, puts an emphasis on the many benefits of having a great smile. Reynolds – who is a national and international lecturer on high-tech digital orthodontics and practice management – attended the University of Michigan.

Get them brushing early with these products

Zoonicorn Wish Me Unicorns

I believe in Zoonicorns, do you?

Zoonicorn plushies originated from a unique idea for a children's story that soon flourished into a limitless dreamland of mythical creatures who create an environment in which social and emotional learning are the main themes. Zoonicorns, Valeo, Aliel, Promithea and Ene are part unicorn, part zebras, with magical wishing horns. Kiss the nose of your Zoonicorn, watch their horn light up and make a wish!

Through collaborative problem-solving, Zoonicorns promote and empower children to be more confident which will better equip them with critical thinking and decision making skills. Children between the ages of two through six have an active imagination, which may result in the creation of childhood fears. Zoonicorns are perfect playmates for this age group! They are soft, cuddly plushies in bright colors; which make soothing sounds used four touch points to help relieve stress and anxiety.

Zoonicorns are immune to the let-downs of life, always greeting your child with a happy face; providing comfort when needed. They will never bend or dent and can be dependable, helpful companions for your child as he/she grows and matures.

Wish Me Zoonicorn plush toys will be available in retailers such as Target, Meijer, Walmart, Cracker Barrel and Amazon in the U.S. this fall.

The 411:

We think Zoonicorns are adorable. They are the right size for small hands and come in 4 different colors. The company also has a wonderful You Tube Channel with 13 short videos featuring the Zoonicorns and focuses on social skills and emotional learning and growth as well as problem solving and working with others. 

My preschool class were introduced to the Zoonicorns last week. I showed them 3 episodes which were perfect since they are all under 3 minutes and then brought out Aliel which is the one we received. They all wanted to kiss it and get the horn to light up but since it is mine and everyone is coughing and sneezing, I left a note in everyone's file so their parents can look up the website and You Tube Channel. Maybe some will receive one this Christmas. 

My daughter and I think it is cute and she says if she was younger she would have asked for one on her Christmas list. I think it is perfect for ages 3+ as indicated but would give to a 2 year old as well. 

For More Information visit their You Tube Channel and website.



zoonicorns_1999_60_v7_noffer from Mojo on Vimeo.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Don't Forget To Enter The Medieval Times Giveaway - LOW ENTRIES

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My Second Instagram Giveaway Ends In 2 Days

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Halloween Book Giveaway hosted by @mariassspaceblog - 1 Winner will receive these 3 books. Frankie’s Scared of Everything by Mathew Franklin Peppa Pig and the Halloween Costume Another Monster at the End of this Book To Enter: Like @mariasspaceblog (my page on Instagram) Leave A Comment on my Instagram post Tag a Friend Extra entries Share to your story tagging me Ends 10/26 Good luck Disclaimer: This is in no way associated with Instagram. This giveaway is handled by me and the books will be mailed out by me after checking all entries are valid.

A post shared by Maria (@mariasspaceblog) on Oct 19, 2019 at 9:46am PDT

All Treat, No Trick! Kids are FREE at Medieval Times this Halloween + A #GIVEAWAY

Does your little one want to be a Queen this Halloween?  Perhaps they want to be a knight?  Whatever they want to dress as this Halloween, Medieval Times (149 Polito Avenue, Lyndhurst NJ) has a special treat in store for celebrating the holiday.  Kids are FREE at the castle this Halloween, with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket per each child's ticket.  

Just use the code TREATKF at www.medievaltimes.com.  This special offer is valid for the Halloween show on Thursday, October 31 at 7:00 pm. Once you're done trick or treating, head on over to the castle to make this a most memorable Halloween.  The Queen encourages you to attend in costume!

Well the kids can't go alone! So....thankfully Medieval Times is offering 2 tickets to 1 winner. 

If you have never been to Medieval Times you need to go. I have gone four times and loved it every time especially the last time where I brought my in-laws who live a town away and have never gone as well as my husband and my kids.  You can see the review along with too many photos here.  Just watching my father-in-laws face was worth the ride. He was like a little kid. 

The giveaway can be valid for tickets for the Halloween show or any show through November 30.  

To Enter 

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was offered to host this giveaway.

Medieval Times - Kids Are Free This Halloween

Celebrate Disney's The Lion King With A Lion King Banana Smoothie Recipe & Simba Pumpkin Stencil

Disney's The Lion King Is Available Now. To Purchase or rent for $5.99 

I loved the Lion King but have yet to see this one. I CANNOT wait. Tomorrow I am picking up the makings for this Lion King Banana Smoothie. I love smoothies!

We didn't do pumpkins this year but maybe there is still time to grab one. This Simba stencil is so cute!

A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish - Downloadable Christmas "Wish List," Exclusive Clip & Photo Reveal

Halloween is right around the corner and you are probably gearing up with candy for your trick-or-treaters and costumes for your little ones. But as soon Halloween is over – the Christmas season will kick into full swing! Friends will begin decorating their trees, stores will start advertising their must have items of the season, and kids will start dreaming of presents on their holiday wish list!

Just in time for the highly anticipated release of A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish on Blu-ray and DVD on October 29, and on Digital now.

Whether your kids are naughty or nice (or somewhere in between and still trying) – sending a wish list to Santa has been a Christmas tradition for children and parents for many years. So print out this list, and break out your Santa cams – as we are bringing on the good behavior early this season!

I love the idea of this wish list and I will be doing it with both my kids!

Six Eating Disorder Symptoms to Watch For

Eating disorders are a complicated set of mental illnesses that have the highest mortality rate. Those with anorexia, for example, have a 20% mortality rate if untreated. Thankfully, treatments for eating disorders have proven to be very effective.

Treatment, however, is not just for those who are the worst off. It is for this reason why it is so important that you know what symptoms to look out for:

Three Different Types of Eating Disorder

There are a variety of eating disorders, but to put it plainly, they can often be subdivided into three main categories:

Restrictive

The most infamous type of restrictive disorder is anorexia, but it doesn’t end there. Those who are compulsive about what they eat, how much they eat and more will all fall under this category.

Purging

Bulimia is the most common type of purging disorder. It doesn’t matter if a large amount of food was consumed or a small meal.

Binging

Binge eating is a very common eating disorder that does not result in purging. That being said, this does not automatically mean that someone with a binging disorder is going to be overweight. It depends on the type of food, but regardless, the compulsion is an issue that must be addressed.

It is important to note that there are variations of these three categories. For example, you might have someone suffering from anorexia and not be stick thin. Someone might binge and yet not be overweight. It is the underlying behavior and damage caused to their health that is the issue, not the size of their form.

Top Six Symptoms to Watch Out For

 1.    Overemphasis on Weight

One key sign is a fixation on their weight at any stage. The sufferer could be thinner than anyone they know and still find flaws. 

2.    Worryingly Restrictive Diets

Being in a diet does not automatically mean that the person has an eating disorder, but if they are prolonged and worryingly restrictive (i.e., they don’t provide the health and nutrition their body needs), then it is time to be worried and seek out help.

3.    A Refusal to Eat Around Others

Another key sign that there is something wrong is that the person in question refuses to eat in front of others. This is usually because they feel ashamed of what they are doing to themselves. This could be not eating, binge eating, or purging after eating. 

4.    Extreme Mood Swings

Extreme mood swings are another key sign of an eating disorder when combined with others in this list. Low blood sugar, not eating enough, or feeling angry and frustrated and ashamed of their eating habits can cause victims to lash out. 

5.    Physical Symptoms

If your loved one (or yourself) has reached the point where physical symptoms are showing it is time to seek out professional in-patient treatment. Anorexia, in particular, is very deadly without treatment, and those suffering from anorexia and are severely underweight need to check in to Eden Treatment immediately. 

6.    Eating Disorders are Often Accompanied by Mood Disorders

It is important to remember is that many eating disorders, particularly binging or purging disorders, are also accompanied by mood disorders like depression. Keep an eye out for these more widespread illnesses on top of the aforementioned eating disorder signs.

Rocks, Gems & Geodes Klutz Maker Lab Review Our Blog Video Review Is Here TOO!

Klutz: Maker Lab: Rocks, Gems & Geodes 

Kids will dig the world of earth science and geology! Kick-start your very own rock collection with the 36 stones, then use the included crystal powder and mold to grow your own geode formation. Collect rocks and conduct experiments, such as a scratch test and float test, to discover their hidden properties. The fun doesn't stop there - You'll even learn how to make your very own rock tumbler. Use the fact-filled book to keep exploring the world around you as you find more samples to collect.

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The 411: 

My daughter and I are crystal, gems and stone collectors. We share stones and head out two times a year to find new ones for our collection so we were really excited to review this kit from Klutz.

The kit comes with 36 stones, a magnifying glass, a colorful book, plaster mix and crystal mix so you can make your own Geode.

We really loved the stones but wish the set up was better. Once you do the Geode experiment you then have two empty areas in the packaging. If the package had a removable part that allowed you to keep the stones in their named compartments that would be helpful. You could cut the empty parts out but then you have the problem with the cover. It will be too large and if you cut it it will no longer hold the stones.

BUT with all that aside the whole set up is pretty cool for kids who love science, stones or experimenting.

We had some trouble with making a Geode and it didn't work out for us but we are interested in trying again.

This Halloween Costume Hurt My Cheeks! #LOL #halloweencostume #TVStoreOnline

I never laughed as hard over my kids in a Halloween costume as I did with the Life Me Walking Dinosaur from TVStoreOnline. My daughter had a blast wearing this costume for trick or treating in the village. I had got it to wear for my preschool classes' Halloween party but in our town the kids get to Trick Or Treat at the Merchants up and down main street after a parade and before the Terror Trail evening fun. She had a blast. It is so different from her normal Halloween costume that I didn't think she would even be interested but since it was so cold that night she said it was perfect.

TVStoreOnline has a huge collection of costumes. There are over 1000 officially licensed TV and movie costumes as well as T-Shirts, PJs, Toys and more. They also have costumes for men, woman, children, couple costumes, and group costumes.

It was so hard to pick just one costume out.  I chose Lift Me Walking Carrying Adult Costume because this year my class is into dinosaurs and I thought they would love this. Beside the dinosaur they had a monkey, unicorn, teddy bear and more. They didn't stop at Halloween though. They even had an elf, reindeer, and leprechaun.

What I loved most about it beside how hysterical it is was that it was warm. If it is hot, T-shirt and shorts inside the costume and if cold, coat and jeans and leg warmers.

The costume was so easy to put on and there are bands that fit around your feet to keep the legs down then slip your feet in your shoes.

There is even a drink holder for whatever you want to put in it. No one will know what you got going on.

Check Out Our Fun Video Here:

They have Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Office, Nintendo Characters,  Comic Book characters and more. From the popular Ghost Busters, Frozen and SNL Spartan Cheerleaders to the more obscure like Kelly Kopowski's Bayside Sweatshirt, and the Hangover's Alan complete with a baby doll in a Baby Bjorn.

While there I noticed they had so many cool Christmas gift ideas too. I am dying to get my son a shirt that says "Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal." Home Alone is his favorite Christmas movie. My daughter loves Adventure Time and they have really cool leggings. She is going to love them.

To Purchase:
Visit TVSTOREONLINE.COM

Follow them on Facebook, Twitter , You Tube and Instagram

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered. All opinions are my own.

Rainbow Butterfly Sorting, Color Matching Game Perfect For Toddlers - Skoolzy.Com

Hey guys I want to introduce you to Skoolzy and its line of educational toys and games for toddlers and preschoolers.

I had never heard of Skoolzy before receiving the Rainbow Butterfly Sorting, Counting, and Matching Game For toddlers and preschoolers.  

I was so impressed with their high-quality, affordable products that inspire children to learn as they play, helping to improve early development skills including fine motor skills, counting, color sorting, and more.

Popular toy selections for this holiday season include some of Skoolzy’s all-time bestselling products such as Rainbow Counting Bears, Peg Board Sets, and Lacing & Stringing Bead Set, among others. Exciting new toys for 2019 include the Prescchool Learning Tree, Alphabet Flower Garden, STEM Apple Factory, and more. All Skoolzy toys are guaranteed to be child-safe, non-toxic, and durable for generations.

The 411:

I received a complimentary Rainbow Butterfly kit to experience with my toddler/preschool class. I work with ages 2- 3 and they were so excited for a chance to play with the kit.  Anything that allows this age to use their fine motor skills and identify colors is a winner in my class.  They are really into shouting out the colors they know. 

The kit comes with 8 butterflies in 7 different colors, 7 flower petals (we thought they were balloons), 1 flower center (we thought it was a star) 

We went over each of the colors and then showed them how they could use the toy. We place one of each butterfly in the center star, 8 circle cards with numbers 1-8 and butterflies on the other side, tongs and a storage pack!

My co-teacher is Montessori taught and loved this toy. She was as excited as the kids to see this in our classroom.

What I loved most about this as a mommy and a teacher is how long this toy would be relevant. As your child gets older you can increase the activities. For my class we placed one butterfly for each  color in the center and showed them how to use the tongs to match it to a petal and them put each back in the flower center so it is ready for the next student.  As the children get older we can work on number identification and place a number card in each petal asking for a specific amount of butterflies of each color we want in the petal.   

We love it and believe our kids will enjoy it for a long time. It is on our activity shelf and they can each take a turn with it every day. It is a favorite.    

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

The Secret Life of Bees

BOOKS, PRODUCT REVIEW

Amateur Book Review – The Secret Life of Bees

Posted on September 1, 2008

The Secret Lives of Bees – by Sue Monk Kidd – Great book. I just heard that will will be a movie starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo (who I love from Hotel Rwanda) and Jennifer Hudson. Pretty exciting that it will be an all star cast.

Back to the book. The book takes place in the 60’s and deals with racial tensions of the time. That is not why I wanted to read the book. The reason I wanted to read it was because the main character Lily’s mom has died and she is on a mission to find out who her mom was. She is hungry for information about her mother which I can totally relate to.

In the story Lily she has a few saved mementos of her mom’s and one of them, a piece of wood with a label on it featuring s a Black Madonna with the words Tiburon, South Carolina on the back. She and her maid/nanny (outspoken Rosaleen) get in a little trouble and Lily takes the opportunity to break free from her dad. She and Rosaleen head to South Carolina where they run into three black bee keeper sisters.

For me the story is about sisterhood, friends, and bravery. I adored the religion that the sisterhood made up to honor the Black Madonna along with a wonderfully poetic description of the times, an the nature of bee keeping.

This is a fantastic book and a really quick read. 4 out of 5 stars.

Monkey & Cake Have A New Book Out: My Tooth Is Lost

Meet Monkey and Cake.
They are silly. They are curious.
Sometimes they fight.
But Monkey and Cake are always best friends.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit, Drew Daywalt, and illustrator Olivier Tallec, comes a fresh new duo Monkey and Cake. In this book, Monkey has lost a tooth! This makes Monkey sad. Cake reassures Monkey that the tooth fairy will come... but Monkey isn't so sure. Can Cake help find the lost tooth instead?

With Daywalt's signature voice and style, the relatable humor of Elephant and Piggie, and the wise friendship of Frog and Toad, Monkey and Cake invites readers to laugh along and let their imaginations soar.

I Love Monkey and Cake Books. If you have a child who is learning how to read, wants to read on their own or are reluctant readers this is the series for them!

A fun read, easy words, adorable characters. Kids will love reading about Cake and Monkey.

To Purchase:

Halloween Coffee - Trick & Treat K-Cup

Such a fun coffee! I love the box (a glowing Jack O' Lantern and black and orange color), the name; Trick or Treat and the taste which is a delicious blend of pumpkin and marshmallow! This is the perfect Halloween party coffee or when you just need to have a little fun.  Java Factory’s Limited Edition Trick & Treat coffee is so good. Sweater Weather is here as is everything pumpkin spice. What makes this flavor different though is that touch of sweet marshmallow.

Like all the other Java Factory coffees Trick & Treat is made with 100% Arabica Coffee. The taste isn't overpowering and if you are not a pumpkin lover you may find this changing this for you.  The flavor is a light to medium coffee and my co-workers wait for the days I bring in a new box of K-Cups to try so I can't wait to show them this one.

I have a second box so I can do a bowl of candy for my Trick Or Treaters this year but I am also doing a bowl for parents containing Trick Or Treat K-Cups. I know they will love it.

This is a delicious treat. In fact, I am drinking a cup right now. It is the best way to write a review post about coffee..wish you could try it with me. One of my readers will have the chance at the end of this post. Check out my little video and don't worry that hand is part of the house decorations. No one was hurt in the making of this video!

WTF??? Not So Wordless Today

Wordless Wednesday – WTF??? Not So Wordless Today

Posted on May 22, 2008

Usually I do keep my entry wordless but this one is so bizarre to me that I have to explain why I even bothered to keep it and not delete it as soon as I snapped it.

This is a picture of my son in my kitchen after we returned from his cousin’s communion. He ran by the stove just as I was trying to snap his picture and this is the result.

Oddly enough, the lights in the center is a bulb above the stove which is really the only thing I can make out.

You can also make out my son. His face, head and the center line of his shirt.

Thursday Challenge – Bright

MEME

Thursday Challenge – Bright

Posted on June 15, 2008

Thursday Challenge – BRIGHT

This is one of those pictures that I normally would delete but I love the idea of the water, the sun and my child’s joy of standing in the sprinkler. Besides, it goes with the Bright theme so it’s an extra bonus.