Holiday Gift Guide: Charm Girls Club Pajama Party Wii

Back in the day I loved a good slumber party. Me and a few of my best gal pals just watching videos, listening to music, painting our nails, gossiping about boys. Oh and all the dancing, giggling, and pillow fighting....what memories! Now I have a little girl of my own and she loves slumber parties just as much as I did. Girls are so fun!

Anyway, someone over at EA Games knows what girls and pajama parties are all about! Their game Charm Girls Club Pajama Party is a hit with the tween set. You get to make your own character then start playing a ton of fun games. This video game offers lots of mini games that your girl is sure to enjoy. You can jump on the bed, style your hair, and all sorts of other cool stuff. Your character goes around collecting charms and having fun. My 10 year old loves it!

This game is great for girls to play on their own or with a group. I can only imagine what a hit it would be for a slumber party. We may just have to try that soon. Anyway, we enjoyed the game. It kept Ashley entertained for hours. I really liked that it was an enjoyable game made for girls, as I feel there aren't too many of those around. So, definitely keep it in mind this holiday season.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Thank You for Making a Difference

Self esteem has been a big topic around here lately. I have dealt with low self esteem since childhood. I was too short, too fat, not pretty enough, didn't have the right clothes, I could go on and on. It is not as bad now that I'm an adult, but I still have to work on it.

Now, Ashley is at the age that self esteem is becoming a big thing for her. I think it is harder for her, because of her hemifacial microsomia, her face doesn't look like everyone else. We don't notice it so much, but other people sure do. When you look at her in a mirror, that is when you see it the most. About two weeks ago is when Ashley realized how pronounced it looks in her reflection. That, combined with a little boy who will not sit near her in reading class who calls her a monster, have really shock her self esteem. Between cruel kids, peer pressure, and the media, our girls get attacked from all sides with what being beautiful means.




So, as Mom, I need to help build her up and help her to be strong, teach her about real beauty, and empower her to love herself. But, how do I do that?

Thanks goodness for Dove and their awesome Campaign for Real Beauty. The Dove Self-Esteem Fund was established to inspire and educate girls about a wider definition of beauty and is committed to reaching 5 million girls globally by 2010 with self-esteem programming. Thanks to the support of influential women globally, Dove has already reached 2 million girls and conducted nearly 2,700 educational self-esteem workshops since 2006. This fall Dove launched the "Thank you for Making a Difference" program to thank supporters for building girl's self esteem and to invite everyone to share their stories about making a difference in self esteem. Check out this video for more information on Dove's fantastic self esteem workshops.



Their website is chock full of information to help you talk to and empower the girls in your life. I was very impressed with the amount of resources they offer. I am also very impressed with Dove's commitment to this issue, how many beauty companies tell us we are already beautiful? You can help support the Dove Self-Esteem Fund by simply purchasing Dove products, then entering the UPC here, and select a charity. You can choose from Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc.

Thank you, Dove. Thank you for helping us empower our girls and thank you for trying to broaden everyone's definition of beauty.

The thoughts and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I will be receiving Dove product and True You! Workbooks from Dove. These items have in no way influenced this post.

Holiday Gift Guide: Kota & Pals Stompers

Do you have a dinosaur lover on your gift list this year? I know I sure do! If you are looking for the perfect gift for them, you might want to consider Playskool Kota & Pals Stompers. We received a Triceratops Stomper to review and I was very impressed. The dinosaur stomps around, makes dinosaur noises, and even throws it's head back! I don't know what child would not enjoy playing with this adorable toy. My entire family, me and Dan included, had a blast playing with this guy. Toys have come such a long way, we never had anything this cool when we were little!


Kota & Pals Stompers are recommended for ages 3 years old and up. They require three “AA” batteries, which are included. You can purchase them at most major nationwide toy retailers or online at HasbroToyShop.com for $24.99. I think it's a great price for a toy that would be a huge hit with the preschool set this holidaty season.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from Hasbro other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Monday Morning - Cedric vs Edward

No one wanted to get out of bed around here this morning. It is foggy, drizzly, chilly, and just gray. A great day for sleeping in. Too bad it's Monday. Dan and Tristen went off to work and scho

Image by ClickFlashPhotos / Nicki Varkevisser via Flickr

ol. Ashley stayed home with a slight fever and sore throat.

Maybe next time she'll listen to mom when I am telling her to wear a jacket or to not stay outside very long. Dan told me yesterday I sounded like such a mom fussing about the kids being out in the crisp weather. Well, duh! Can you say I told you so? Anyway, she's bundles up watching Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire, dozing on and off. BTW, did you know that Cedric on that movie looks just like Edward Cullen? Ashley was completely amazed, lol. This brought on a discussion about movie characters and who she thought was cute. I asked about poor Cedric, to which she replied her Harry Potter heart throb is George Weasley. What? Boy was I surprised. But, he's apparently much more handsome than Cedric. So, I asked her who the most handsome movie character ever was and she told me Edward, duh mom. I was amused.

I am cooking, cleaning, and trying to get some work done. It is a dreary day, so I am trying to stay busy and resist the grayness that is trying to bring me down.

Wishing you all a good, healthy, productive Monday.

A Go, Go, Go Day

Image by The Library of Congress via

Yesterday was quite a busy day. My grandmother came over, taking 10 week old puppies to the vet. We left the doggies, then took my kiddos to the doctor for shots. They were out of two of the vaccines they needed, so Tristen got one shot and we still need to get them more. Then it was off to lunch, dropping off prescriptions, shopping, picking up prescriptions, then more errands. We went and picked up the puppies, then Nanny dropped us off here. We arrived home to news that Lynette's DH was in the ER with a possible heart attack, so that got me really worried. Then we sorted out the school supplies to take them to meet the teacher night. Grandma called needing us to watch CG's little sister for

Image via Wikipedia

awhile, so we did that and didn't make it to the school. Ashley is sure the fact we missed meeting her teacher means that they won't let her in on Monday. I assured her that I would force them to take her, lol. Then it was grocery shopping, dinner, conversation, tucking in kids, watching Hell's Kitchen with Dan, then finally crashing. I feel like it was go, go, go all day long!

As of this morning, Lynette's DH is still in the hospital, but her seems to be doing well and sounds really good. The kids are doing their chores without being asked, which iss super nice. I don't feel so harried and overwhelmed for a change. So, let's hope the day keeps going well.

Wishing you all a fantastic day!

Back to School – Beyond the New Backpack

Image by double-h via Flickr

This guest post is by Rachel Buhr. She is a great writer who shares more educational tips and ideas on her blog http://www.biglittlebrain.com/

Are you gearing up for back to school?

For many homes, the month of August is comprised of back to school
preparation. Whether it is clothes, shoes, markers or backpacks there is
the constant checking of the list and parents saying, “Did we get
everything on the list?” However, have you taken the time to think about
your child’s mental health checklist? Is he/she emotionally and
physically ready for school? As a parent you may want to take the time to
think about what you can do to make the emotional and physical transition
back to school go smoothly.

We have all read the articles that talk about getting your children to bed
earlier to prepare for school. This is easier said than done. What kid
wants to start getting ready for bed at 7:30 pm when all of the neighbors
are still outside? This is where you as a parent need to adjust your
child’s schedule gradually. For example start by waking them up a half
hour earlier in the morning. This will cause them to be a little more
tired in the evening and may not fight going to bed as much. During the
weeks leading up to school, continue to wake them up early and adjust
their bedtime in 15-20 minute increments. This will help to get both
parents and children back into school mode before the first day.

Have you addressed your child’s concerns of actually going to school?
Some kids are afraid they will not know where their classroom is located.
Others are concerned that they will not be able to open their locker.
Instead of assuring them that everything will be fine, show them. Take

Image by House Of Sims via Flickr

them to school and locate their classroom. Some children need more time
than is given at an open house. Many of the schools are open during the

day as the teachers and staff are preparing for the start of school. Walk
around the school and look at the classrooms. Let students take the time
to practice with their lockers. Often times locker combinations are
mailed out in August. Even if your child does not have his/her
combination, you can still go check out the lockers and show your child
how to work the lock.

These are just a few of the many ways parents can help their children
prepare for the upcoming school year. Take the time to talk with your
children and have them voice their concerns. Once you know what is
causing them to be apprehensive, you as a parent can take the steps to
reduce their anxiety. These simple back to school basics can help make
the first day of school a success.

Great Children's DVDs

Have you heard of Sid the Science Kid? He is an adorable little boy who is curious about everything. The best way I can describe him is as sort of computer generated puppet. You can find his show on PBS. I recently was given the opportunity to review two of his dvds, The Big Club and Change Happens. The episodes on the disc explore decay, growing, melting, animal communication, why dirt is dirty, and more. As a parent I was very impressed with how much information was presented in a kid friendly way. All the adults on the show from Teacher Susie to Sid's family, encourage his curiosity and help him learn about whatever his "Big Question" is for the day. I love that they encourage the youngster to explore. These dvds are very educational and fun at the same time! The characters are likable, the stories are presented well, and the songs are too cute!

The Bug Club Episodes

• Hello Doggie
• Home Tweet Home
• The Dirt On Dirt
• Don't Forget The Leaves
  
  

Change Happens Episodes

• My Mushy Banana
• My Shrinking Shoes
• My Ice Pops
• The Perfect Pancake

I also was able to review Dive Olly Dive Ship Shape Sub. He makes me think of Jay Jay or Thomas that my kids loved, but he is so much cooler because he is a submarine. My eight year old told me that by the way, I have no preference between the two modes of transportation. Olly, along with his friends Beth, Skid, Diver Doug, and my favorite Ranger the Cowboy Seahorse, all come together to teach children lessons like listening to others, learning from you mistakes, and more. The animation is great, the stories are well thought out, and the series seems devoted to teaching kids valuable life lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed this dvd and wish the series had been around when my kids were younger.


Ship Shape Sub Episodes

• Haunted Ship Prank
• Less Is More
• Navigation Consternation
• Follow That Lobster
• Don't Tell Beth
  

Since I had no preschool age kids to test these flicks on, I had to borrow some. My testing group was made up of a 6 year old girl, a 5 year old boy, and 2 year old twin girls. They enjoyed all the dvds, but Sid the Science Kid Change Happens was the favorite. I was told by their mom that decay was the topic of the day after they watched it. The little girls loved the music, especially "I'm Looking For My Friends" and would try to imitate the dance that May does. The older kids watched intently, asked lots of questions, then told everyone what they had learned from the show. Mom told me she has never seen all four of them sit and stay interested all the way through a dvd before. Mom gave all three disc an A+ rating.

I whole heartedly agree. As a parent and former daycare provider, I really think these are some of the best children's programs I've ever watched. They truly grab the child's attention and keep it until the end. The kids learn a lot from each episode and have a good time doing it.

I am thrilled to be able to give away all three of these wonderful dvds to one lucky reader!

How to Enter:

Leave a comment telling me you want them.

Earn Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

• Blog about this giveaway linking back to my blog.
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This giveaway ends August 4th at 10:00pm CST. One winner will be chosen randomly and will have 3 days to claim their prize. Be sure I have a way to contact you if you win!

Frugal Family Fun ~ MYO Finger Paint

Image via Wikipedia

Do you have artistic kids? I sure do! They love to build, create, and express themselves. This simple recipe keeps us in finger paint any time inspiration strikes my little Picassos.

1 cup Water
1 cup Flour
1 cup dish soap or hand soap - obviously the lighter the color the better

Mix these three ingredients together until smooth. Separate the mixture into smaller containers, depending on how many colors you are making. Then just mix in food coloring until desired color is reached. Small sour cream containers or other small plastic tubs with lids are perfect for storing the paint, pretty much anything with a tight fitting lid will work. Store in the refrigerator when not in use.

Often times you can buy newsprint end rolls from the local newspaper for very little. You can get quite a lot of paper for a little of nothing. These endrolls are wonderful for your little one's art projects!

I hope you have fun with these paints. Spending time with the kids and getting a little messy is something we should all make time to do more often.

For more family fun, click the graphic below to check out Homemaker Barbi's Family Friday!

Kevin Jonas Is Off The Market!

Cover of Jonas Brothers

Yep, the oldest Jonas Brother is officially engaged to girlfriend Danielle Deleasa. I am sure tween and teen girls across the world are crying into their pillows tonight. Ashley likes the Jonas Brothers, but Kevin is certainly not her favorite. Nick is wayyyy cuter she tells me.

I really hope these youngsters can have a happy life together. They are so young and it seems being in the spotlight is not easy on a marriage. Being in the public eye is certainly not where I'd want to be. Life is hard enough without the whole world being curious about what you are doing.

Anyway, this was major news in this household. Little Miss is a all about what's happening with the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and anything that happens with any Twilight cast member. Little girls are so fun! I can't say much, I wasn't much older than Ashley when NKOTB fever hit like crazy. I still have a box of my fan stuff, including a Jordan Knight doll, in our closet. It must go with the age.

Who was your first celebrity crush?