Happy New Year!

Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Charlie and Lola Dolls

Fans of the Charlie and Lola series on Disney channel will love these Charlie and Lola Dolls by Kid's Preferred as Christmas gifts this year.

The Kid's Preferred's Talking Poseable Charlie & Lola Set are poseable and they talk. Their voices are those from the television series that viewers have come to know and love.

Charlie and Lola are siblings around ages 7 and 3 respectively and whatever it is that Lola needs help with, Charlie is there with imagination and loving caring. Charlie helps Lola with getting her first hair cut, going to school, and checking books out from the library to name just a few instances of his help. The children address everyday happenings that may be frightening in a child's world in an imaginative and creative way.

Delight your little one with Charlie and Lola Dolls.

Landmann Super Sky Fire Pit

Bring out the Landmann USA 28905 Super Sky Fire Pit this season and invite your family and friends over to roast marshmallows, sing caroles and be festive for the holidays.

With the 365 degree view everyone will enjoy the large opening for warmth and appreciation of the cut out designs.

Selecting a location to have your gathering is easy with the full handle that goes around the entire diameter of the fire pit.

This fire pit is made solid and is easy to assemble. You'll have it set up with dancing flames in no time.

Enjoy the holidays and add some outdoor sparkle with a Landmann Super Sky Fire Pit

Jolly Elves Christmas Craft

My daughter and I are making Jolly Elves this year for our annual Christmas craft. The image shown to the left and the Jolly Elves craft idea are from the Parents Magazine website.

Prior year holiday crafts have included Gingerbread ornaments using felt (2004), decoupaged angel ornaments using wood cut outs and tissue paper (2005), sparkle balls using small styro foam balls, pins and sequins (2006), decorated glass ornaments (2007), and in 2008 we made (and enjoyed) an edible treat as gifts. These gifts are for family, teachers, coaches, friends, and of course as momentoes for our Christmas trees.

My daughter and I look forward to this tradition each year. From choosing the craft, to gathering or buying the materials, and then making the items, we enjoy the together time as well as the anticipation of the actual gift giving. We also enjoy decorating the Christmas tree with the current and prior year craft ornaments. With each item we recall what grade our daughter was in, how we enjoyed, or in the case of the sequin sparkly ornaments how we didn't enjoy, making each ornament.

Parents Magazine has been the inspiration for many of our Christmas crafts. We are looking forward to creating our Jolly Elves and would like to share with you some material and item buying tips that you may find helpful with making this craft.

The instructions call for chenille pipe cleaners, Large and Small beads, smiley face beads, felt hats and scarves, and bells. You will need a glue gun and glue sticks for making the hats.

Here is list of the items and where they can be found:

Chenille stems: We found ours at Michaels crafts. You can also purchase the Jolly Elves Craft Pipe Cleaners at Amazon. They are 12" or 6mm long. They are the super thick variety, I am thinking of getting the "standard" or non super thick stems to assist the beads and bell going into position easier.

Large and Small beads: I found the Large wooden beads used for the body also at Michaels, but these Large Wooden Beads at Amazon look very similar. The beads from Michael's are round and the diameter of the inner circle is spacious. The selling price for the pack of 35 was $2.99. For the small beads we are using pony beads. They look okay, but I think small wooden beads in primary colors would look better. The shine on the pony beads is a bit distracting.

Smiley Face Beads: I purchased the 25mm smiley faces at Sunshine Crafts. Oriental Trading also offers the smiley face beads.


Felt: Any craft store, I did buy sparkle felt at Sunshine Crafts, but because of the extra thickness of the pieces have decided to use good old fashion plain felt, in various colors of course! Now the felt is used for the elf caps and the scarves. The scarves are 4" long and 1/2" wide. Most pieces of felt are 12" long, netting you 3 scarves per 1/2"W horizontal cut. The hats are also felt. I just checked at Amazon.com and they do have these felt pieces if you want to order them online. The craft directions call for a semi circle from a 1-1/2" circle, I found a typical tealight candle to be just the right size to use to trace a pattern for making the felt hats. Cut the circle in half and then wrap and glue the right and left points together to form a cone, leaving an opening for the chenille stem.

Bells: The bells we purchased and are using are the 12mm gold bells we found at Michaels crafts. The opening for use with the super thick chenille stem is a little tight, but with a little patience, the bell fits onto and slides down the stem to sit atop the elf hat. These Gold 13mm Jingle Bells might work too since they are a bit larger.

We've completed 8 little guys, and hope to make a total of 24 Jolly Elves. Twenty four is the original plan, but after seeing how adorable these little guys are, we may be making and giving more! Happy Holidays!

Fancy Nancy Toys

How fancy is Fancy Nancy? Well, since 2005 when author Jane O'Connor with illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser first introduced us to Fancy Nancy we have been reading Fancy Nancy Books to find out.

Fancy Nancy has an insatiable desire for all things fancy. She loves to dress fancy and always accessorizes fancy with boas, hats, and tiaras. But talking fancy is just as important as dressing fancy , and Nancy treats us and her readers to fancy words such as "Fuschia", "ecstatic", and "extraordinary"!

Readers love Fancy Nancy for her whimsy and often times extravagance. What is also delightful about Fancy Nancy is that although she loves the glitz and glamour of life, she is a girl who knows that true fancy in life doesn't come from glitz and glamour but from the meaningful things in life.

Fancy Nancy Toys are enjoyed by children with books, bed linens and even a Fancy Nancy Christmas Holiday Doll.

Enjoy this video of a Harry McKillop Elementary School third grader's report on Fancy Nancy. (Source: SchoolTube.com)

Popular Children's Books

Children aquire a love for reading from an early age. Babies love the bonding and listening to our voices, toddlers enjoy the colors, pictures and characters, while school age and young adults become more immersed in the story line and plot the more they read and the older they become.

Popular Children's Books can be categorized by age and include those books for babies through age 3, ages 4 through 8, ages 9 through 12, and young adult readers.

Watching my own child progress through the baby years, then toddler and preschool years, and now early education years, it has been inspirational on a personal level to witness the growth and love of books. As a result of my child's love of reading I have rekindled my love of reading. That's a definite plus in my world/

Children's popular books include classics like Winnie the Pooh, Goodnight Moon, Diary of a Wimppy Kid, and of the Eric Carle books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the fabulous Fancy Nancy books, and the Twilight Saga books for young adults.

I am hard pressed to think of another activities that opens so many doors of creativity and learning than reading. In my opinion teaching a child to read and seeing them foster that desire on their own as they grow older is one of the most rewarding aspects of parenting.

Sesame Street Books Make Great Gifts for Christmas 2010

I came to know about the Sesame Street program and Sesame Street Books first as an adult and then later as a parent.

My first foray into the world of Sesame Street were the Bert and Ernie characters through my husband's niece.

As an adult I would hear references to songs from Sesame Street such as "One of these things is not like the other" and still, wasn't aware of the scope and breadth of the show that this month is celebrating 40 years of preschool education in literacy and numeracy.

And today as a parent of an elementary grade school student, I feel like I've logged enough hours watching Sesame Street to feel like a Sesame Street graduate. And while I know more about Sesame Street than at any other time in my years, the show's continuous development and growth to meet the needs of it's preschool audience may warrant me a newbie in the near future.

That being said, I view the Sesame Street books as valuable tools for children's learned reading behavior. In these stories children can not only connect with the characters they see on the show they can connect with the characters activities and accomplishments. Whether it's learning the ABCs or potty training, children can relate to the characters and their reactions to events and emotions they feel on a frequent, if not everyday basis. Learning manners, overcoming fear of monsters, learning about pets and animals are all introduced in a creative, colorful manner.

Reading the Sesame Street stories using board books is ideal for their durability and economical sense. While the story may get overworked with readings after readings, these book are built tough to stay together for the next reading.

Whether it's Elmo, Big Bird, the Cookie Monster, or Count von Count, the Sesame Street books provide educational reading in a fun, colorful way.

Baby Books Make Great Gifts for Christmas 2010

Baby Books are wonderful gifts as Christmas gifts. There are many styles of books to choose for baby. There are Record Books, Boards Books, Scrapbooks, Books about Babies, and Baby Einstein Books from which to choose.

Record Books keep all babies memorable firsts in one place for all to share. Scrapbooks give the family and baby something to view and share as baby develops. You can use photos or physical items such as a baby bracelet. Babies love other babies, so a book about and featuring babies will be enjoyed by baby. The Baby Einstein books open up the world around them in fun and expressive ways with lots of color and imagery.

Whichever Baby Books you choose as a Christmas gift, you are giving Baby the present of time with loved ones and a chance to bond while sharing reading.

Janson Beckett AlphaDerma CE Anti-Aging Wrinkle Cure Concentrate

The Janson Beckett Cosmeceutical company has a line of skincare products that are known as anti aging wrinkle peptide products. The flagship product of the Janson Beckett company is AlphaDerma CE.

The AlphaDerma CE, is referred to as the best and safest Botox alternative is formulated to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles. The AlphaDerma CE lotion is one the company's Peptide Anti-Aging Treatments with many ingredients including moisturizers, anti-oxidants, muscle tigheners and the Botox alternative ingredient, Argireline. Additional ingredients include DMAE, the powerful antioxidant ALA, Vitamin C Ester, Elastin, and Collagen.

The company website state that it does no animal testing in the research and creation of their products.


The Janson Beckett AlphaDerma CE product tightens and aids in repairing aged skin and preventing future damage.

M-Audio Prokeys 88SX 88-Key Lightweight Stage Piano

The M-Audio Prokeys 88SX Lightweight Keyboard is sweet. It's compact, so it can travel with you, fit nicely on a desk or table top, and has unbeatable sound. You can choose from seven premium sounds to play. Choose from 2 piano sounds, 2 electronic piano, FM Piano, Perc Organ based on Hammond B3, and Clav: instrument sound based on Hohner Clavinet D6.

Users love the great light weight feel provided by the 88-note semi-weighted action keyboard, and the pitch bend and modulation wheels.

You need your own head phones or speakers with the Prokeys 88sx. The component offers 2 1/4" front-side headphone jacks for headphones and stereo 1/4" audio outputs for connecting speakers.

With the headphones you can practice and play all hours of the day without disturbing neighbors, or loved ones.

Practice or teach using the M-Studio Prokeys 88SX 88 key Lightweight Keyboard and enjoy.

LG BD390 Blu Ray Disc Player

This LG BD390 Blu Ray Disc Player is ideal for the movie aficiando on your Christmas list for several reasons. The first item that is wonderful about the BD390 is it plays blu ray discs in high definition. Secondly, the LG BD390 offers Netflix and Youtube streaming using its internal Wi-Fi 802.11n technology. The component comes with 1G of internal memory to successfully assist with unbroken streaming. The third reason this disc player is wonderful is that it uses Standard DVD Up-Scaling. Watch your standard DVDs on the LG BD390 blu ray player. This player also will play your collection of personal media files including video, music, and .jpeg files. The LG BD390 is a Christmas gift that is certain to entertain and delight!

Samsung P400 Ultraportable Projector

The Samsung P400 is a portable projector with a bright image and high quality audio. The projector is 2.5" in. x 5.8" x 5.7" and weighs less than 2 pounds (1.9lbs). Its LED light source with 150-lumen rating is eco-friendly and economical with a 20,000 hour lifetime. Set up of the projector is straight forward using the VGA cable that comes with the projector. The projector also comes with a remote control allowing you to make adjustments from across the room which may come in handy during family movie or game night. Whether you are looking for a projector to use for business or as a gift for the movie or game afficiando on your list, the Samsung P400 offers portability, image brightness, and great audio.

Canon VIXIA HF200 HD Camcorder

Camcorders, like many electronics, have come along way over the years. Today's camcorders are sleek and lightweight with SDHC media storage. The Canon VIXIA HF200 HD Camcorder has everyone talking, and it's easy to see why!

The Canon Vixia HF200 boasts a sleek 2.8" wide, 2.4" high and 4.9" deep design that weighs only 12.0 ounces. It's size together with the ability to capture outstanding high definition video directly to a removable SDHC Memory Card make this camcorder an easy and convenient choice for enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.

Included with the Canon Vixia HF200 is the genuine Canon 15x HD Video Lens. This lens can be used to record long shots of your favorite player on the soccer field, wide shots of the beautiful outdoors, and everything in-between. HiDef demands a steady hand, and Canon has supplied the VIXIA HF200 with SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization (SuperRange OIS) to help keep your shot steady without compromising image quality.

Using the Canon Vixia HF200 HD Camcorder is intuitive and easy. Because of it's size, it's portable which means capturing more of life's moments to share and remember.

Sandisk Sansa Fuze 4gb MP3 Player

Listen, Watch, and Play with the Sansa Fuze with room for up to 1000 songs, a Digital FM radio with 40 preset stations, a Voice recorder with built-in microphone, and the opportunity to expand the existing 4 GB memory with the microSD/microSDHC slot!

The SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4GB MP3 Player is a small, sleek, and smart alternative to the iPod.


With a 1.9 inch color screen, you can watch videos or pictures in color!This MP3 Player is the perfect size: just 2.2 x 1.5 x 0.6 inches and 2.1 ounces.

The SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4 GB MP3 player comes with earphones, a USB 2.0 cable, and quick start guide. Among the various SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4GB Video MP3 Player Accessories are silicon skin cases in a variety of colors, LCD Screen Protectors, armband, removable belt clip, and USB car chargers.

Singer 7470 Confidence Computerized Sewing Machine

Sewing has made a resurgence of late with refashioning leading the way. Sewing enthusiast and novices alike are enjoying current and traditional sewing such as sewing for home decor, mending and alterations, construction, or crafts with the Singer 7470.

When you think of sewing, you think of Singer. That is because the company has been in business over 150, has earned numerous awards, and continues to build loyal customers.


Some of the Singer 7470 Confidence benefit and features include:

* Stitch width of up to 7mm wide
* 13 needle positions
* Programmable needle up/down button
* Free arm with accessory storage
* Carry handle that folds
* Audible and visual warning signal given if there is a problem

The Benefits and Features also include:

* Automatic needle threader and 6-second thread path
* Twin needle sewing - used to create decorative patterns with two threads
* QuickThread bobbin - gives the top drop-in bobbin a clear view plate so it's easy to load correctly every time
* Stitch options including handlook quilting (gives the look of a handquilted stitch); alphabet (with upper case, specialty characters, numerals, punctuation), 6 styles of 1-step and an infinite length bar-tack buttonhole, button sewing, different hem options and a wide variety of stretch, quilt, heirloom and decorative stitches (over 150 patterns)

The Review Are In! People love the Singer 7470 Confidence:

• With so many sewing machines on the market, it becomes overwhelming to know which machine to choose. I based my decision largely on consumer reviews (as well as a recommendation from several staff members at a retail store). As of now, I couldn't be happier with my decision. Posted by Grace 11/2008

• The instruction manual is very well written. Self threading the machine turned out to be a breeze. Selecting the stitch was super simple. Posted by Cookie 08/2009

• -I love the drop-in bobbin. I don't even mind having to adjust the thread myself while it's winding, either (as another reviewer pointed out). It's just so much easier than on my old machine. -It handles all fabrics, thick and thin. Just make sure you're using the right needle (of course)! Posted 08/2009

Whether the sewing enthusiast in your life is a current Project Runway fan, expert seamstress, or a hobbyist the Singer 7470 is a wonderful tool for helping sewing enthusiasts explore and express their creativity.

The Joys of Receiving a Children's Music Box

Music boxes have been filling our lives with fantasy and tunes since the late 1700's. Originally designed to be carried as a snuff box in men's vest garments, the music box has developed from individual musical enjoyment, to home entertainment, to wonder and delight for children of all ages.

Today there are several types of music boxes to choose from including musical snow globes, musical jewelry boxes, trinket boxes, figurines, eggs, ballerina music boxes, and photo frames.

The top 5 tunes of today's music box are 1) Amazing Grace, 2) Fur Elise, 3) Pachelbel's Canon in D, 4) Wind Beneath My Wings, and 5) You Are My Sunshine.

Music boxes make wonderful long-lasting gifts for children and adults alike as Christmas gifts, Mother's Day gifts, birthday gifts, and special family occasion gifts. A wonderful, timeless gift, children's music boxes will continue to delight and inspire.

Little Tikes EasyStore Table

The Little Tikes EasyStore Table is one of the best purchases we made for our toddler daughter. This table provides a perfectly scaled to size area for watching television, playing with molding dough, having a snack, reading, or doing crafts. The picnic style seating seats up to 6 children and provides a place for children and their creativity.

The table design includes an indented center area to hold crayons, snacks, paints, or craft supplies. The center also has two cup holders and an opening for an umbrella. Using this table outside is just as easy as using it inside. The sturdy plastic withstands the elements, juice, crayons and most importantly is able to be cleaned with everyday surface cleaner.

This table can easily travel to the beach, camping, visiting with the grandparents, or in a playhouse. It is easy to store and open and requires no tools for assembly.

With the holidays approaching the Little Tikes EasyStore Table could possibly be the best answer to the "children's table"!

The Fascination Antworks Illuminated Gel Ant Farm

Thankfully the ant farm my daughter received as a gift is the new Fascinations Antworks Illuminated space age gel ant farm. I say thankfully because of the nutrient rich gel the ants live in. This for me and my family was more enjoyable than the traditional sand environment.

After receiving the Harvester ants we bought online, we put them in the refrigerator a short while to give them a chance to "chill". Apparently the cooler air makes them a bit sluggish, diminishing the little rascals from wanting to make a run for it when trying to introduce them to their new environment. This of course makes for a more pleasant transfer to the gel ant farm.


Watching the Ants Build An Ant Tunnel

The instructions for the gel ant farm recommend making four holes of two different depths in the gel with the included stick. These holes will be entries for the ants to help them begin tunneling. One tip is to make one or two holes closer to the side of the container. It is very intriguing to watch the ants tunnel from these tunnels that are on the sides of the container. It was great seeing the ants progress within 24 hours of placing them in the container.

The Gel Environment

The Fascination Ant Gel is a nutrient rich environment for the ants. There is no need to feed them or provide water. Everything the ants need to survive is contained in the Nasa Ant Gel. The instructions do recommend carefully lifting the lid of the container once a week to provide a breath of fresh air for the hard workers!

The ant life expectancy is an average of 12 weeks. As the ants die, the other ants bring the dead ants to the surface. This makes for easy removal of the dead ants. Our ants lasted 10 weeks, just short of the average of 3 months.

The Gel Ant Farm Makes a Great Gift!

With the gel ant farm container dimensions of 6 inches high, about 6 -1/2 inches wide, and just about 1 1/2 inches deep it is a nice size for a desktop, countertop, or a shelf. The ants are enjoyable to watch as they persevere in their tunnel building. Having the Fascinations Antworks Illuminated gel ant farm is a great gift that is enjoyable for all ages!

Enjoy this time lapse video of a working gel ant farm!

This Bissell Vacuum Makes Vacuuming Easy!

It's been suggested I vacuum too often. What's considered too often? I figure the day I empty the vacuum canister and it's empty inside is the day to begin cutting back on daily vacuuming.

The tool I use to make this daily task more enjoyable is the Bissell 3 Way FeatherWeight 3106. This lightweight vacuum has power, versatility, and durabilty.

I have been enjoying using the Bissell 3106 Featherweight Lightweight Vacuum for just over two months. During this time I have found this vacuum to be ideal for our daily kitchen use. It collects dog hair well, as well as every day leaves, dirt, and food crumbs. The product performs well, generally collecting small and medium items with one pass.

The Bissell 3106 can be used in one of three ways: 1) as a floor vacuum with the floor nozzle, 2) as a hand vacuum, or 3) with the crevice tool or the floor tool as a multi-purpose vacuum. The crevice tool is especially handy for cleaning spills in cabinets, or carpeting along the wall molding.

I use the Bissell 3106 on the ceramic tile with the floor nozzle. The great thing about the floor nozzle is that is transitions easily to carpeting. So when I am vacuuming the ceramic floor, I can also vacuum the throw rug in the kitchen all without interruption.

The power cord is a good length on this vacuum and the attachments are very effective. I also like using the hand vacuum with the floor attachment on my steps thus avoiding managing the large upright vacuum on flights of stairs.

The Bissell 3106 Featherweight Lightweight Vacuum is a real joy to have as a cleaning tool, even if it is everyday!

The New LG Cell Phone the LG enV Touch

I just got the LG enV Touch a few weeks ago and have been having a ball using it. The three things I like best about the phone so far are: 1) This is my first phone with a Qwerty keyboard....Love that I type one key for each desired letter!, 2) the phone plays music, and 3) the 3.2 megapixel camera.


Texting with the Qwerty Keyboard

This isn't my first cell phone, but it I do have to say that since having my LG enV Touch, this is the most texting I have done with my LG cell phone. It's so much easier to send a message, and there is the added bonus of the recipient of the message doesn't have to wait forever for my responses :)!

Listening and Enjoying Music

I have also enjoyed listening to music with my phone. It's been nice to have along while waiting somewhere or even in the car. The speakers on the LG enV Touch are great for listening or the 3.5mm headphone jack can be used to listen to music with headphones.

Taking Pictures Using the External Screen

And last but not least I have been enjoying taking pictures with the external screen on my LG enV Touch. The camera is a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus. Using the larger external screen makes taking pictures fun and easy!

The LG EnV Touch continues to be a pleasure to use. I look forward to learning about using the camera to make videos, changing the contact icons to show pictures of my family and friends, purchasing LG Cell Phone accessories and using the visual voice mail.

Vacation Thoughts and Memories

We're back..from our Florida vacation. This year we visited Mom and Dad in New Port Richey at the beginning of the week and then we were all lucky to rendez-vous in Kissimmee for the remainder of the vacation. We had a lot of fun visiting with Grandmom and Grandddad, going to the beach, swimming in Grandmom's and Granddad's pool, eating out at restaurants, going to Seaworld and of course, we can't forget...eating chocolate cake! It was our second visit to the Wyndham Cypress Palms in Kissimmee and once again, it was a great place to vacation.

Enjoy the vidoes below highlighting our visit with Mom and Dad and our visits to Seaworld!