FYI... Blog Updates & Construction Going On!

Hi, everyone! You may have noticed my blog post area is smaller today. I know I did! :/ I am currently working with Pearl Tree Designs to extend the posting area as well as my sidebars. They will be wider and looking good by next week, so no worries.

Hope everyone is having a great week! Look back later today for our Voda Swimsuit Review & Giveaway!

Just Kids Gifts Personalized Books Review & Giveaway

The holidays are nearing and, as usually, I have been stocking up on fun and interesting presents for the boys throughout the year. If there is one thing I know for certain that will please the kids to receive, it's books. They love books- reading them, looking at the pictures and listening to Mama read. The boys already have 2 bookshelves full of books and have read almost all of them, so I know it's time to get some new books. I've heard of personalized books before, but have never purchased one for the kids. Just Kids Gifts has a huge selection of personalized books for children and, for the holidays, there are several themed books available, too!

About Just Kids Gifts

Just Kids Gifts specializes in custom-made gifts for children – personalized books, music CDs and DVDs. Our personalized products make cherished keepsakes and are great gifts for newborns through age 12.

Make your child a star! With their personalized books, your child is the part of the story. Just Kids Gifts personalized books are customized with your child’s name, age, hometown and friends. They also offer music CDs customized with your child's name and sun by their favorite characters- Mickey Mouse, Elmo, Barney and much, much more! Would your child love to be featured in a movie? Then, get them a Personalized Kids DVD, featuring your child as the main character! You provide a photo and your child is incorporated into the film with other characters of your choice- Dora & Diego, Spiderman, Barney and more.

Just Kids Gifts are perfect for just about any occasion, especially the upcoming holidays!

Wee Squeak Shoes Review & Squeaky Shoe Giveaway Ends 10/18

My oldest son loves his light-up shoes, but I've never bought any for the kids that actually squeak! I was contacted by Wee Squeak Shoes for a review and was immediately curious. I'd seen them in a children's specialty clothing store before and they looked so adorable. I knew I just had to have them!

About Wee Squeak Shoes

As parents of infants and toddlers, our inspiration for Wee Squeak shoes was watching our children in these shoes. We discovered these little gems in 2003 while in China adopting our oldest daughter, Chloe. However, during the adopting of our youngest daughter, Ellie, we had the idea to bring some shoes back for our friend's children. Our company, Wee Squeak, was born! We are fun parents, with fun shoes for fun kids! 

My Thoughts

 

Liam's Navy Tennies

Looking around the Wee Squeak website, I was immediately torn on which shoes to choose. There are so many cute shoes for boys and girls! I finally decided on the Boys' Tennies, their version of tennis shoes for kids, in navy blue. They are even cuter than they appear on the website and Liam's eyes lit up as soon as he heard them squeak. He couldn't wait to put them on.

Let me just say that we had the hardest time getting Liam to actually walk (due to his disorder and balance issues). He had the hardest time staying upright and just decided he could crawl around much better, so he didn't even start walking until this June, at 19 months! Our biggest mistake? Not buying Wee Squeak shoes earlier!! I am convinced that would have been more than enough encouragement for him to begin walking. Since putting his Tennies on, Liam has walked around everywhere. The first time he wore them, he would jump up and down, laughing his head off the entire time. It was so hilarious! Every time we've gone shopping or to the bank, he walks around so proudly, smiling and showing off his new "shoosh"

Cheap Cute Costumes For Your Little Ones

It seems like every year Halloween costumes get more and more expensive. They also tend to be put out at stores much earlier and all the good ones get taken before I even have a chance to browse the aisles. I never buy my costumes in-store anymore because there is a better selection online and I can find them for cheaper prices, too.
Here are two ways for you to get your children Halloween costumes online without breaking the bank this year.

1. BuyCostumes.com- an online store with a huge variety of costumes for babies, kids and adults! What I love about this website is that they have selections separated by price, some of which are under $10! I took a look and there were some great ones for only $9.99 that I've seen priced much higher elsewhere.

2. ThredUp - I absolutely love ThredUp and talk about it all the time. It's a great way to get a huge box of children's clothes for hardly anything. Use my link provided and get your first box free. All you will have to do is pay the shipping, which is $10.99 (I think). It's shipped in a medium sized box priority mail, so it's a huge box completely FULL of items. Right now they are featuring their Halloween costumes. Every box I've ever received from ThredUp has been awesome!

Bilingual Me Chinese Language Book Review

Teaching my children multiple languages is very important. Did you know many other countries teach their students at least 2 languanges in addition to their native language? Why should the US be any different? I took German in high school and was supposed to teach in China when the unfortunate outbreak of SARS hit. I was so disappointed because I love the culture and language. I'd love for my children to learn Mandarin.

Bilingual Me, Inc. has some wonderful language development products that help children not only recognize the Chinese symbols, but also helps them learn the translation. Using the LOYO pen with the My First Words Series of books, children can hear the words pronounced in Mandarin, which helps them associate the words with the included symbol and picture. It combines the senses, which is the best way to learn languge, allowing hands-on interaction.

  

My Thoughts

I opted to review the My First Words Series books which can be read with or without the LOYO pen. As the parent of a 18 month old, it's become very clear lately that his picture books for first words have been the most significant in his language development. Bright colors and pictures completely transfix him and he could stare at the books all day, reciting the words. The My First Words Series books and LOYO penwork on the very same premise- see, hear and memorize. Each book contains 32 pictures, English translation, Pinyon, and rhymes. The eight books contain some of children's favorite topics, including food, animals, transportation, vegetables and fruits, nature, numbers, colors, shapes, and more!

I have to admit, I need the pen. Since I'm horrible at Mandarin pronounciation, I don't dare try, but they can at least recognize the symbols for now. Let's just say proper pronounciation is a must in China. The books are for ages 3-8 years of age and, with the LOYO pen, they can play games and study the words at their own pace. It's a wonderful, wonderful program and I'm sure it works very well with children.

At these ages are the perfect time to start teaching another language. Children completely absorb everything you are teaching them. Josiah still spits out random German words to me just from hearing it over the years. I highly recommend these books and the LOYO pen!

Buy It

You can buy the LOYO pen on Amazon.com for $98.99 or purchase the LOYO pen along with the 8 books in the My First Words Series for only $128.99! A great price considering other language programs cost nearly $500!

This review was written for Biligual Me in conjunction with Living Your Moment. The product was received in return for my honest review.

Blog Bash Coming Up On June 22nd

Hi, everyone! I've been so focused on the Summer Block Party event, I've failed to keep you updated about Blog Bash 2011!! The Summer Block Party ends on June 21st and the Blog Bash picks up right where it left off, on June 22nd until June 26th! Yes, we are going to party all summer long here at Children Teaching Mama! :)

What is Blog Bash?

It's a huge Blog Hop Event sponsored by Family Approve with 150 bloggers participating. Think Blogmania (Which I will be participating in later this year!)! Each of the blogs will have their own giveaway package worth at least $100, but many are worth hundreds and some reach $1000! Wow!

My Package

My package is all about natural living! With cloth diapers and other products to make life easily "green" and safe for the entire family. :) Early entries for sponsors will begin on Monday. I'll list all confirmed sponsors either on Monday or this weekend, too! So, ready to keep the party going all summer long?