Does anyone else think that its hard, nowadays, to find cute shirts for your kids without sacrificing quality?  You go to many of the major mass-market stores and sure, there may be some cute shirts that are super cheap, but they last how many washes?

I recently had the opportunity to receive and review a toddler tee from Hank Player USA.  HOW CUTE!!!  We received a 2T boys grey tee that featured the “Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil” monkeys!  Every time that Noah wears this out and about, we have received soooo many compliments. Although a bit small, in my opinion, for the size, it has not shrunk in the wash/dry, nor has it shown signs of wear due to washing yet.  Great!!  There is a great sizing chart on their website that will help you determine exactly what size you should order, though.

Noah was being a ham and was really strutting his stuff for the pics of this shirt!

Hank Player strives to create a quality, long lasting t-shirt that brings together a combination of hip, novelty graphics and vintage inspired colors. All about clean designs, Hank Player tees are garment dyed and vintage washed to give it a familiar lived-in and super soft, comfy feel.  This vintage feel was one of the things that I loved best about this shirt!  Check out some of these other great screen prints that the Hank Player tees carry!  I love them!

Hank Player’s novelty graphic t-shirts have been featured in numerous movies and tv shows, including ABC’s “The Middle” and NBC’s “Parenthood.”  Additionally, Hank Player tees have been worn by many celebrity babies and kids as seen in People, OK!, InTouch and US magazines.

Proudly made in the USA, Hank Player is now available for the whole family. Shop the Hank Player Campus Store for hip baby gifts and novelty graphic tees (including their Official NASA tees) for infants, toddlers, boys and girls (of all ages).

Hank Player USA does not just feature kids shirts, but men’s tees as well, and just as clever of screen prints!  (Still waiting to see if they come out with ladies styles and sizes.)

Generous in the community, the Hank Player company proudly supports local non-profit companies with donations and more!

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Other Official Rules and Details: Winner will be emailed after the giveaway closes and also announced on this blog under the featured “Recent Giveaway Winners” section on the homepage of our blog-azine within a few days after the close of the giveaway. Winner will have 72 hours to respond to our email, or another winner will be drawn. We never share your email with third parties. Prize(s) will be mailed directly from the sponsoring brand. No purchase necessary. Erroneous entries (specifically those that did not follow the entry rules) will not be considered. Non-US resident winners may have to answer a series of simple questions in order to comply with international regulations on sweepstakes. To view our complete rules and regulations, please click here.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely that of NoM, and are completely honest and without influence. NoM has chosen to host a giveaway for this product(s) because we think it would benefit our readers. NoM will not responsible for prizes that have not been received, but will make every attempt to assist winner(s) in securing them in a timely fashion. It is the winner’s responsibility to make contact with NoM in a timely manner (within 30 days after the close of the giveaway) to report that a prize(s) has not been received or the prize(s) may be void. NoM may or may not be an affiliate of one or more products mentioned in this review, and by clicking on and/or purchasing products from a banner or link on this page, NoM may make a small commission at no cost to you. Click on the appropriate links to view our full policies, giveaway rules and disclaimers.

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When I became pregnant with our first son, Noah, I decided to educate myself on what I was putting on my own body, in my own body and surrounding myself with.  This, after I learned of a severe reaction that I was having after consuming synthetic iron in my multivitamins and had to find a more natural way to consume it.

In my research, I learned very quickly about skin care products and the lack of regulations in this industry.  Did you know that 70% of what touches your skin is actually absorbed into you?  With that said, do you know what is in your lotions, shampoo, perfumes…everything that touches your skin? I do….now!  Between parabens, fragrance and sulfates, many of these additives and preservatives have been strongly linked to cancer and other major health concerns.

I cannot eliminate 100% of everything that is bad for myself and my children, but I can be aware and change some of the basics.  Recently, I was introduced to a line of natural baby care products that fits right in with my requirements.  These products work and I have no problem in putting my gold seal of approval on them!

Unlike any other baby skin care line on the market, BabySpa (www.babyspausa.com) is a complete line of natural products (lotions, oils, washes and more) that caters to the specific needs of a growing child’s skin physiology by providing quality products that match up with key developmental progress and milestones (such as crawling, walking and going to preschool). Made with the finest natural ingredients, including 5 ethnobotanicals (not available in any other baby skin care line), BabySpa nourishes the skin while meeting baby’s sensitive needs and also making for a great bonding experience between a mother and her child.

I was sent a great gift pack ~ The Baby Essentials ~ that included Stage 1 (Newborn-Crawler) products, including their 3 in 1 tearless shampoo, moisturizing body lotion, soothing face cream, travel lotion, traveling baby wipes and a set of tickle toys for infant sensory development.

Although the shampoo was designed from infant to crawler, I did use it not only on my crawler, but my 2 year old as well.  The scent was fresh, and it was encouraging to know that there were no unnatural “fragrances” in it.  The lotion went on very smooth, and I even use it on my dry skin every now and again.  The tickle toys were a lot of fun!  The BabySpa tickle toys are made with plush fabrics and textures that help activate the receptors of the skin.  Amelia loved these!!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely that of NoM, and are completely honest and without influence. NoM has chosen to host a giveaway for this product(s) because we think it would benefit our readers. NoM will not responsible for prizes that have not been received, but will make every attempt to assist winner(s) in securing them in a timely fashion. It is the winner’s responsibility to make contact with NoM in a timely manner (within 30 days after the close of the giveaway) to report that a prize(s) has not been received or the prize(s) may be void. NoM may or may not be an affiliate of one or more products mentioned in this review, and by clicking on and/or purchasing products from a banner or link on this page, NoM may make a small commission at no cost to you. Click on the appropriate links to view our full policies, giveaway rules and disclaimers.

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Dewey Howard, a “Love & Logic” expert and recovering “drill sergeant dad”, and his wife Angela, a recovering “helicopter mom”, have successfully raised 3 kids using the “Love and Logic” parenting method.  He now shares his advice in his very popular classes and on our blog-azine.

What kind of parent are you?

Some parents want the best for their children and do so by directing their day. These parents have “been there” and want to keep their children from making the same mistakes they have. They want to help their children develop good habits and tell them how to do it.

Some parents want the best for their children and do so by giving their children freedom. These parents have decided to “stay out of the way” and let their children find their own paths. They want their children to discover their own limits and boundaries.

The most effective parents want the best for their children and do so by becoming guides for their children’s growing up years. These parents set reasonable and enforceable limits? so their children will be surrounded with safety and security. They give plenty of opportunities for their kids to make decisions and experience the rewards or consequences of those decisions – while holding their kids’ hands through both.

Effective Parenting is not about raising kids who are good when things go good. It is about building healthy people who can cope effectively when bad things happen.

Do you know parents who, when things go wrong, put forth a lot of time, energy and effort to rescue or direct their children from their poor choices? They love their children and want what is best for them. That is why they rescue or demand certain behaviors … to protect them from the unpleasant consequences that come from poor choices.

Rescuing children may have short-term benefit, but the long-term effects are harmful.  The long-term effects of directing a child’s every step are also harmful. Rescuing can help the child feel better, but it lowers his ability to cope with unpleasant circumstances. In the same way, directing can lower his ability to deal with difficult situations because he never learns the skill of solving his own problems.

Do you want to be an effective parent and help your child most over the long-term?  Share empathy with them over their consequences, guide them in problem solving to make the situation right, and help them learn to cope and to overcome when the bad times come.

What kind of parent do you want to be?

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Our family is planning a vacation to Wyoming and South Dakota this summer.  So, why am I talking about homeschooling?  Because we are doing unit studies and reading books about those two states and different places, people, animals, plants, etc. in preparation for our trip.  We are learning a little history, geography, science, math and such to help make our experience more exciting.  You can do this, too.  All it takes is a little time searching the internet and ordering free travel guides, a trip to the library and perhaps ordering a couple of books to take along for fun.  I found that this really gets the kids more excited about the trip, creates conversations along the road that might not have happened otherwise and helps create opportunities for further learning as we travel.  Plus, it is so fun when the kids can say, “Hey, I read about this before we came!”

To begin the process, I look into what is available from each individual state we will travel through.  Each state offers a free travel guide that can be either downloaded from the internet or mailed to you in hard copy form.  These usually include a state map and a guide to all the places, people, things and entertainment available in the state.  Many will also include brochures or flyers for specific locations if requested.  Some states also have searchable websites with information on local attractions, calendars of events and details about specific items of interest.  I find these sites most helpful as a place to begin.  Plus, my kids love getting stuff in the mail.

I have also learned to search on the internet using the name of the state and the word FREE to find local attractions and learning opportunities that cost very little to no money.  This often leads us to find diamonds in the rough, like a train museum in Alabama that ended up being a major highlight of our trip.  Local museums lend themselves to learning about local culture and history in a way that books and the internet can not.  Being able to see, discuss and sometimes touch items from the past makes learning come to life and creates amazing memories.

Our lessons always begin with geography by learning where each state is in reference to where we are now.  Last summer, in preparation for our trip to Alabama, we learned the location of states that we would pass through on our way there, all the states that surround Alabama, the names of major waterways we would encounter and a LOT about the Gulf of Mexico.  For this trip, we are going to get out the maps and plan our route from Nebraska to South Dakota and over into Wyoming, keeping in mind that there are several major places we want to see along the way.  We will talk about state capitals, population, typical crops and animals raised in those areas, plus rivers and lakes, mountains and mountain passes we will cross as we travel.

Math lessons can include calculating distances and travel times for each day.  It can also include figuring out how old a particular site is, how long ago a battle was fought there, etc.  I plan to talk about acreage and miles as compared to metric measurements of the same kind.  Conversions of kmph to mph and such can be done with the older kids.  We can calculate driving times at 55 mph, 65 mph and 75 mph.  Calculating estimated gas mileage, costs for gas, lodging and food can also lead to stimulating discussions.  Creating a time and money budget makes a good economics lesson.

Science can be included in several ways, but our favorites are rocks, trees, flowers, birds, and wild animals.  We find out about local flora, fauna and natural attractions that we may encounter.  For example, we plan to visit Yellowstone National Park.  So, one of our science lessons will include things about geysers, mud pots, earthquakes, hot springs, the color of minerals in water, etc.  We will also learn about buffalo, elk, deer, grizzlies, black bears, marmots, moose, ground squirrels, eagles, hawks, mountain goats, and several other animals we may encounter along the way, plus their habitats and food sources.  I plan to dig up one of my son’s favorite books called “Who Pooped in the Park?”, a reference book about using animal droppings and scat to identify animals that have been in the area.  Who knew that stinky stuff on the ground could be so educational?  In South Dakota, we hope to make a stop at Wind Cave.  So, some of our science lessons will include cave uses, formation, terminology, flora and fauna, etc.  We also hope to make a stop in Thermopolis, Wyoming where there are natural hot springs to swim in and a dinosaur dig to explore.  That may lead us into lessons on dinosaurs, specifically the ones they are finding in Thermopolis.

History lessons can be tailored for each state, as well.  Because there is SO much that we could cover, I plan to stick with the general history of how the state joined the union, perhaps an episode of “How the States Got Their Shapes”, if there is one about the states where we are headed, and anything that I know my kids will find intriguing.  The majority of my focus will be on the history of several of the places we plan to visit.  On our list is Mount Rushmore (which could lead into a lesson on each of the presidents on the mountain), Devil’s Tower, and Yellowstone National Park.  We also plan to make a stop at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming and the tiny local museum in my home town.  Both are great resources for getting kids excited about history and making it more personal to them.

Reading lessons can include both fiction and non-fiction resources about characters, people and events that take place in the locations we plan to visit.  If we have time, I hope to read to my kids some of the writings of Lewis and Clark, some fiction and non-fiction stories about Buffalo Bill Cody and books about the different places and animals we hope to see.

There are also art and music lessons to be added, if there is sufficient time and interest.  Old cowboy songs, state songs and music from composers who lived in these specific states are on the list.  Art lessons can include drawing scenes from Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Devil’s Tower.  (We may also sculpt some things out of mash potatoes if I remember to get it on the list!) Photography discussion and instruction about the proper use of a camera and how to take good pictures is also on the list.

One of the things I have recently learned is that many libraries have video resources available for borrowing.  Our library has DVDs about Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, buffalo, and several other topics that relate to our studies.  Taking the time to make popcorn and sit down to watch a video together can be lots of fun.  The stories, music and pictures add another dimension to the learning and interest!

This is also a great opportunity, if you have not already done so, to introduce your children to the library.  It is important the kids learn to use the library, not only for finding pleasure reading, but for doing research.  The internet is a great resource, but I have found that my kids do much better and absorb more information when they have a tangible book in their hands.  Most librarians are happy to schedule a time to teach a brief lesson on using the library or there are books in most libraries that provide information on how to use the library.  (I find that worth a chuckle.)

Just because it is summer does not mean learning has to end.  In fact, this is a chance to make learning even more exciting and garner enthusiasm for your trip by making the places you will visit come to life through books and research.  You can spend a little or nothing to accomplish your learning goals.

Kimberlee

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A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

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Being a mother means there is a new stage to endeavor upon every month, and along with that goes the need for different products for each stage. Throughout pregnancy and our children’s lives, each step has a different need and knowing what products are necessary can be an overwhelming task. Petite Box wants to do all the work for you, so you can just sit back and enjoy your baby!

Petite Box is a monthly service bringing you hand picked items for every stage in your pregnancy or your baby’s life. These hand picked items are all high quality and the finest of baby products. The right products to help you cherish the memory of the developmental stage! The boxes are filled with great products, but the box alone is adorable. Constructed very well with a satin ribbon- it would make a great keepsake box.

After the perfectly wrapped tissue paper, our box was full of organic goodies and sweet treats for baby. Of course each box is different, special for each month up to 12 months. They also have pregnancy boxes for your entire pregnancy. I was delighted to see Weleda natural face care products for moms in our box-along with Organic Bubble Bath for the kids. Petite Box partners with top brands in the baby product world, and the excitement of “What’s in the box?” will keep us wanting a new box month after month!

The baby loved the products that were just for her including a Petites Frites bib and Angel Dear Lovey. Both were incredibly soft and delicate just like her!

Petite Box would be the perfect gift for out of state family to give to the new baby or mommy to be. Or order for yourself and be excited each month with 4-5  new products that mommy and baby will love!!

BUY IT!  Petite Box can be ordered monthly for $25 a month with no contract and shipping always free! You will save money by ordering a 3 month or 6 month subscription….and trust me you will want it!

CONNECT!  Check out Petite Box on Facebook and Twitter to see what all the commotion is about and be first to see new brands that join in.

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Other Official Rules and Details: Winner will be emailed after the giveaway closes and also announced on this blog under the featured “Recent Giveaway Winners” section on the homepage of our blog-azine within a few days after the close of the giveaway. Winner will have 72 hours to respond to our email, or another winner will be drawn. We never share your email with third parties. Prize(s) will be mailed directly from the sponsoring brand. No purchase necessary. Erroneous entries (specifically those that did not follow the entry rules) will not be considered. Non-US resident winners may have to answer a series of simple questions in order to comply with international regulations on sweepstakes. To view our complete rules and regulations, please click here.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely that of NoM, and are completely honest and without influence. NoM has chosen to host a giveaway for this product(s) because we think it would benefit our readers. NoM will not responsible for prizes that have not been received, but will make every attempt to assist winner(s) in securing them in a timely fashion. It is the winner’s responsibility to make contact with NoM in a timely manner (within 30 days after the close of the giveaway) to report that a prize(s) has not been received or the prize(s) may be void. NoM may or may not be an affiliate of one or more products mentioned in this review, and by clicking on and/or purchasing products from a banner or link on this page, NoM may make a small commission at no cost to you. Click on the appropriate links to view our full policies, giveaway rules and disclaimers.

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It is the time of year that the kids say goodbye to their teachers and begin to enjoy summer!

Whether your child is in Mother’s Day Out, elementary school or even high school, ALL teachers like to receive a small token of appreciation.  I taught high school for 2 years right out of college and unfortunately we were the least remembered teachers, so the couple of small gifts that I did receive meant even that much more!

For those of you that need an extra push and a list of ideas on how to surprise your child’s teacher, here are some great ideas ~ some of which are my own and many that I found on Pinterest and have linked to the blog or website to give full credit to their ideas.

If you have any other ideas, make sure to comment on this post and share with other moms and dads!

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Flower bouquets are one of the most chemically polluted gifts that you could ever give or receive! Did you know that?  Why not give a potted plant or flower so that the gift will keep on giving!

Creative Gifts

Using A&W root beer, create a You’re “AW-Some” gift tag

Either do it yourself or buy it, this great crayon wreath is a gift that your teacher can use over and over ~ year after year

Not that Crafty?

Here are a couple of very simple, yet creative ideas for the non-crafty mom!

 Take these ideas and use them as your own!

Make your child’s teacher ~ No matter what grade they are in ~ feel as though they have made a difference for your child and in their lives!

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Dewey Howard, a “Love & Logic” expert, and his wife Angela have successfully raised 3 kids using the “Love and Logic” parenting method.  He now shares his advice in his very popular classes and on our blog-azine.

Responsibility:

One thing we all want for our children is for them to grow in responsibility. We want them to become conscientious of themselves and others, and capable of handling life. But how do we accomplish this It is not as hard as you might think.

1. Give your child a task he/she can handle.
2. Allow your child to blow it. (Mistakes can be valuable learning opportunities.)
3. Let equal parts of empathy and consequence do the teaching.
4. Give your child the same task again.

These four simple steps will provide you with valuable training opportunities with your kids.  Responsibility does not come naturally. We must give our kids the chance to practice it.

Expectations:

Kids rarely do what you want but what you expect. The difference is subtle, but it is a truth about parenting we must understand. We express what we want our children to do in words; we express what we expect of them by our behavior. If we expect our children to have good character and to be responsible, we will give them tasks they can succeed at and empathetically guide them through their mistakes and consequences. If we constantly tell them what to do by reminding, cajoling, and directing, our words betray that we expect our kids to be irresponsible and incapable of good choices.

What we do not say can be, and almost always is, more powerful than what we say.  Keep your words few and your actions clear as you keep your expectations for your kids affirming.

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There is so much for our families to learn from being outside. Unfortunantly, since the early 80′s we have seen a dramatic change in where children spend their time. The “inside movement” (started because parents became deathly afraid of their children being kidnapped) and now, fostered by technology (and laziness), is keeping kids inside, in front of computer screens, televisions, and hand held video games. In fact, the number one activity families do together, is watch TV.

Although there can be good things to learn from the right television shows, families and couples and children who participate in outdoor activities are more satisfied with their relationships, happier, and healthier.

As parents, there are a few things we can remember, that will make it easy to send our kids out to play.

1. Dirt dont hurt.

Remember your childhood? Running around outside, exploring and adventuring. There was some dirt involved, and it didn’t kill us. Dirt is okay. Dirty is okay. I am not suggesting that my kids are going out to roll in the mud today. I still teach them to be respectful of their things, but we can’t get mad at our kids if they come in a little dirty. And we can’t keep them inside so that WE don’t have to do more laundry.

2. Turn off the technology.

TV and video games should not be our go-to activities for our kids or our families. Turn them off. When kids come home from school, once homework and other responsibilities are done, send them outside. In our house we have a rule that there is no TV on weekdays. It has created an atmosphere where our kids are always asking to go out and play, instead of asking to watch TV.

This applies to us also. We need to turn off the computer and phone and get some fresh air. With our kids and spouse is even better.

3. Use the resources you have.

Kids love leaves and flowers and water and grass. Send them out to water the plants. To gather different sizes of sticks, or different shapes of leaves. Being outside is all about creativity and imagination. It doesn’t have to be perfectly structured. Instead look to what you have around the house that can be used outside, and look at what is outside that can be made fun. When we were kids we used to take popsicle sticks and race them down the gutters in the water. So simple, but we would race for hours, running up and down the sidewalks following our sticks. I bet you have craft sticks in your supply right now.

Our girls love to take plastic silverware outside and have pretend picnics. They use long reeds to weave placemats and then make “food” out of flowers and leaves etc… They have so much fun just using the resources in our own backyard.

That said, another way to use the resources you already have, is to do inside things, outside. Why not eat lunch outside, why not have your kids do their homework outside sometimes, why not walk to the neighbors to drop something off instead of drive. Simple, but powerful ways to get us outside and into nature. We have even been known to fold laundry outside.

4. Be a good example. 

If we are always inside, afraid of dirt, on the computer, our kids will do the same things. We have to show them the benefits of being outside, by going outside with them. Remember, children will do for the most part, what their parents do.  If we spend our free time inside with technology, so will they.

5. Forget the household chores.

There will always be something to do inside. Laundry, cleaning, scrubbing. I find that the thought of all I have to do can keep me inside all day. Don’t let it suck you in. Go out and play.

6. Plan ahead.

Plan a time for your family to be outside every week. Maybe that means Saturday morning you go for a hike together, or walk to the store to get groceries, or explore a new part of your city on foot. It is much more likely to happen if you put it on the calendar and plan ahead.

Something that we have just gotten into as a family, and schedule on our calendar is geocaching. Geocaching uses GPS to find hidden treasures in your area. Go to geocaching.com to find all the treasures you can hunt for. Our family loves it and looks forward to Saturday mornings when we choose another route and treasure to find. This is also great for our son who loves technology. And is a good way to show our kids how we can use technology in healthier ways.

We need to make the outdoors a priority with our families, and for our children. At first, our kids might complain a little, but over time, they will start to love being outside and begin to create their own imaginary adventures. Don’t give in. Continue to keep technology to a minimun and encouraging outside play. It is good for our minds, and our bodies.

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I love grilling season! Our 10-year old, cheap grill may be a little rusty, but it’s still kicking, and I’m always excited when it’s time to fire it up! Since it’s so old, hubby just uses whatever temp he needs to in order to get an even flame all the way across!

Burgers, hot dogs, maybe some kebabs, sure…but how about asparagus? It’s amazing grilled! My in-laws gave my husband the little grilling tray you see above, but he’s grilled it without too. He just used to lose a few spears! The tray makes it really easy to do other veggies too, like yellow squash and zucchini.

Our favorite way to eat corn on the cob is grilled!

My hubby removes about half of the husk, along with any silks that are sticking out. Otherwise they burn, and they stink when they do!

Grill until the husk begins to char, then turn them over & finish.

Remove from the grill & then let it cool. It will be extremely hot! When you can handle them, peel back and remove the husks, then enjoy!

Since my husband went to Italy on business 2 summers ago, he’s been obsessed with the perfect, authentic pizza, and he’s made some good ones. My favorite is when he cooks them on the grill. He preheats the grill at the highest temp, and he has some bricks on the top shelf to help distribute the heat evenly. He cuts the temp back to medium once he puts the pizza on.

The hardest part (other than waiting) is sliding it onto the grill. As soon as the dough is “set” enough to handle, he starts to rotate it every few seconds, until it is evenly crispy.

Then just remove it to a plate, let it cool, and enjoy!

What are your favorite foods to grill?

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