And when Boogie Superstar by Electronic Arts for the Wii arrived on our doorstep, courtesty of the Parent Bloggers Network, well, you would have thought Santa Claus himself had brought it.  I officially became the Coolest Mom Ever.  He couldn’t wait to get done with his homework so that he could try it out.

In many ways, Boogie Superstar is cooler than your average karaoke or average dancing game.  Because it is BOTH.  And, even better, you can compete, “American Idol” style, to be the next Boogie Superstar.  Just watch out for “Vickie”, as she’s a mean spirited judge that puts even Simon Cowell to shame. In fact, you can shake things up by challenging yourself to some of Vickie’s worst sabotage (such as blocking lyrics and switching out dance moves).

I’m not familiar with all the songs on the game (so far, at least.  We’ve only unlocked a few so far), but the ones I don’t know are catching on.  I have found myself humming “Take You There” several times during the day.  That one gets in your head!  The dance moves are challenging enough and so are the songs, that my son is kept entertained.  I imagine he would play it for hours and hours at a time if I let him.

And this one isn’t just for the kiddos either.  I think this game would be a great hit at your next party or holiday gathering.  In fact, we had the idea on Thanksgiving to play “Thanksgiving Idol”, with each of us in our family having a crack at the game.  Now that beats watching a stupid football game ANY DAY.  (At least in my book it does.)

If your kid likes music like mine does and loves to play video games too, check out Boogie Superstar for the Wii.  I bet your child would be thrilled to see this one under the tree come Christmas morning!

Boy, am I ever glad I took that shot.  I didn’t know much about the “Littlest Pet Shop” franchise before getting this game, since my daughter is only 8 months old and we try to stay away from too much marketing around here.  Apparently, there is a big line of “Littlest Pet Shop” games on the Nintendo DS too.  This is not to mention the abundance of toys at the local department store.  The notion with the game is you adopt and name (and accesorize!) various pets (everything from a hampster to a frog, which was my personal favorite) and then you can play with these pets in various “lands”.  You make sure that each pet is getting enough affection and food, and then purchase different playground equipment with “kibble” that you earn by playing on other playground equipment.  It’s oddly addictive, brightly colored, cheerful and engaging.

My son, in a word, LOVES it.  I tried to get him to think of some constructive criticism and he couldn’t think of one thing.  He told me that it was one of his most favorite games ever.  Considering how this boy feels about Rock Band, that’s high praise indeed.  I even had fun, helping him play a game with one of the pets one afternoon.  We laughed and shouted at the television and had a great time together.  The games are fun and there is literally SO MUCH to do in this game, that it could seriously be months before your child gets bored with it.

I honestly think this is a game that could be great for the whole family.  Small children could easily understand it and older children and even adults can have fun exploring the worlds and playing the games.  The genius is in the simplicity.  So if you’re looking for a great game for the Wii fans on your Christmas list, look no further than “Littlest Pet Shop“.

But then we started getting frustrated with the wait time.  We would make an appointment well enough in advance, but it never failed that we would spend 30 minutes (or more!) waiting in the little waiting area with the germ infested bead coaster and watching a movie on the tiny television.  Waiting with a toddler sucks, if you weren’t already aware.  We were there for Christmas portraits and finally had HAD IT.  We never felt like the photographer took enough time trying to get good pictures.  Once they saw we had the $5 coupon, they would take a picture until we were relatively sure we got the shot we wanted and that was it.  There was little to no personal attention.  It was very disappointing.

It was around this time that Picture People was getting going in our local mall so we started going there.  It was a bit pricier, but the customer service, quick turn-around and attractive prints made it worth our while.  And, over the years, we’ve gotten less professional portraits taken.  Harry gets school pictures done and since Liam and now Evie came into our lives, there just hasn’t been the time for it.  And, of course, Picture People packed up and left town.

I decided to bite the bullet and made an appointment at Sears Portrait Studio, hoping that enough time had passed that their practices had improved over the years.  We found out within 5 minutes of arriving that no, they had not.   At least, that’s what I believed when we were told that they were very busy, several appointments had run over and that our appointment had been “bumped”.  She meant to call us, honest!  She could see about fitting us in later.  Let’s see, it was 1pm… how would 7pm work?  We’d only have to kill six hours at the mall with a surly third grader and two wee children.  SURE, WHY NOT?  We told her we’d think about it and made ourselves scarce faster than you can say, “Not on your life, sister!”

But my story doesn’t end there.  After mentioning on my blog about my less-than-satisfactory experience, I was contacted by someone at Sears Portrait Studio.  They wanted to make it right for us and would we consider giving Sears Portrait Studio another shot?  They didn’t even ask for details on what went wrong with our experience, just that they would ensure we were treated well.  What did I have to lose?  Our local studio contacted us (the manager called me on her cell-phone to set up the appointment and assured me she would be there to photograph us as well) and we made an appointment.  I started to get jazzed, hoping that FINALLY I would have a picture of all three of my children.

The studio manager called again a day before our photo appointment to go over the details with us.  She asked what the children would be wearing, what sort of portraits we were hoping to get and other details.  Before we even stepped foot in the studio, I felt like a very important customer.  And when we arrived, that feeling only deepened.  We never had to sit in the waiting area, as we were whisked back for our session right away.  The manager and another photographer were there on hand to help us capture our children (no mean feat when you factor in Liam).  I was still doubtful that we’d be able to get many quality pictures of Liam, at least, but I was game.

In short, we were taken VERY well care of.  Liam wasn’t good for more than about two photos in a row, but the women were more than happy to go at his speed and let him take breaks as often as he wanted.  Though I was stressed about Liam’s behavior, the women never made me feel like I had anything to be nervous about.  The mood was very calm and relaxed and I appreciated that more than I can say.  After the session, the manager went over the photos with us, helping us make our selections and giving advice where she saw fit.  Of course they tried to sell us their most expensive packages, I would have been suspicious if they hadn’t, but I never felt like I was put on the spot either.  The ball was entirely in our court.

We ordered our pictures and were on our way.  Two weeks later when the pictures came in at the store, we were given a phone call.  A few days later, a framed portrait we were given as an incentive came in and again we were given a call by the manager.  We picked the pictures up and they are GORGEOUS.  They turned out even better than I had hoped and I am so glad that I decided to give Sears Portrait Studio another chance.  If you’ve felt burned by them in the past, like I had, I urge you to give them another shot.  While we were treated like VIPs, I could tell that a lot had changed about their practices in general and I will be happy to return there in the future for more pictures (I’m thinking Evie will need some 1 Year pictures!).  And check out this beautiful framed picture we got:

Not just a gorgeous photo but HUGE.

To give you some idea of scale… sorry it’s so blurry!

So you might find it odd that when the Parent Bloggers Network contacted me about doing a review of Minted’s new Christmas card collection that I literally JUMPED at the opportunity.   Professional Christmas cards that would include super-cute pictures of my family?  it would be like a dream come true!

There are literally dozens of cards to choose from and different cards have then even more options for customization.  So in essence?  The possibilities are endless with these cards.  If you can dream it, the folks at Minted can make it happen.  If you want to print your standard Christmas letter right there on the card in a fancy font (that you can select!), you can.  Want to take advantage of the “year-line” feature that lets you insert photos and “blurbs” about the big events your family has experience in the last year?  Go for it!  Do you want a simple card with a simple greeting and nothing else?  Well, you can have that too.

That’s what I loved most about the ordering process.  There were so many opportunities for customization, that I really felt at the end of the “design process”, that this card was mine and unique.  For the record, this was the card I started with:

(of course, my family does not look that put-together)

It took me the better part of the morning, but I figured out how I wanted my card to look and what I wanted it to say and placed my order.  I was assured that my photos and design would be taken care of by an actual human being designer and everything would come out looking just as it should.  I felt that I could really relax about what the final product would look like.  And the cards arrived super-quick.  I can’t speak for the holiday rush that is inevitable as my cards were ordered last month, but I was impressed by the timliness of the delivery.

And they came all wrapped up with a sweet little bow and a note with the name of the designer who oversaw my order.  Very professional and very classy.  The cardstock is heavy and thick with quality.  The card itself turned out even better than I hoped.  The colors are bright and cheerful and vivid.  The photos I selected (I used a photo collage that I created myself) came out looking sharp, even though my camera isn’t the spiffiest one out there.  All in all, these are cards that I am going to be very proud to send out to my friends and family.  And, I promise you, I will be sending these out this year.  I can’t wait to put the stamps on them, in fact!

The biggest drawback is the price.  They’re a little spendy for your average Christmas card, but if you’re looking for something upscale, these will definitely fit the bill.  And Minted doesn’t only offer holiday cards.  They are a wonderful source for birth announcements and wedding invitations as well.  Also, sometimes you need to spoil yourself and splurge on quality.  These cards are exactly that.

Enter: the Parent Bloggers Network and their offer of a chance to review the immortal classic “Once Upon a Potty” by Alona Frankel.  I’m sure everyone, whether they have children or not, has heard of these books.  They should; they’ve been around since 1975.  And what sets them apart from other books of their kind is that they were the first of their kind (as far as I’m aware) to offer a book to both sexes.  There is a Girl Version and a Boy Version.  Each book contains a small anatomy lesson given in easy to understand terms and accompanied by cute but accurate drawings.

The book is essentially the same as it was 33 years ago. However, that is both a good and a bad thing.  It’s good in that the “retro” feel of the story is appealing to today’s stylish parents and that the simplicity of the tale is what makes it effective with the preschool crowd.  It’s bad in that there are a few items that could use with an update.  Well, actually just one notable item.  I don’t take issue with the cloth diaper, obviously, since I have become a cloth diaperer myself.  But the potty that the child receives as a gift from Grandma isn’t recognizable by today’s standards as being a potty.  It looks like, quite simply, a pot.  And not exactly like the pottys that line the shelves as Babies R Us and Walmart.  It wouldn’t hurt to do a little revamping of the illustrations to show a potty that today’s toddler could easily identify with.

However, there ARE some updates that are rather nice.  For one, the book comes with an audio cd that includes a reading of the story and various potty-themed songs and sing-alongs.  You can even find the lyrics to “The Potty Song” online.  Also nice is that the book comes in board-book form now and that is so much more durable.  This is a book that has a prayer of standing up to my destructive whirlwind toddler.

I have a feeling that with this book under my belt (and the girl version for my daughter), I’ll feel maybe a little better about tackling potty training.  If this book makes it at all easier?  It’ll be SO WORTH IT.

“Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story” is a memoir written by Matthew M. F. Miller that was sent to me to review by the fabulous Parent Bloggers Network.  But more than a chronicle of this couple’s journey through infertility, it’s a tale about romance.  About how this couple was determined to weather the storm together.  And that was the facet of this story that I related to the most.  Because even when we were at our lowest, burying our stillborn son, I always knew we had each other’s back.  We were going through it together.  More than anyone else, my husband knew what I was going through and it was the same for him.  In fact, I would argue that a couple needs to come together in order to make it through infertility intact.

This story has it all, humor, drama, sadness and perspective.  If you haven’t been through infertility yourself, it gives you a good window into what it really feels like to be on that side of the fence.  If you have been through it, then you find in Matthew a blood-brother of sorts.  Comfort in numbers, misery loves company… that whole shtick.

All in all, this book is definitely worth a read.  Check it out.

Doodled-on doors are just one of the many projects this product can easily tackle.  I’ve used this to spiff up our stairway banister more times than I can count.  It makes quick work of our microwave which can go from clean to catastrophic faster than you can say “microwave mac n’ cheese”.  And that nasty little soap scum ring that you get in your tub after you’ve given your filthy children a bath (they get SO filthy in the summer, it boggles my mind) is no match for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.  Seriously, you barely even have to scrub at it.  And no harsh cleaning products are needed.  Just add water to the Eraser and wipe the ring and voila!  All clean.

And one of my favorite new uses for the Magic Eraser: does anyone else get a filthy stove hood?  Ours collects dust and grease like a magnet and trying to wipe it clean with a sponge just makes a sticky, icky mess.  But the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser just scoffs at the goop and wipes it clean.  That was all it took for me to want to try it on our stovetop which has admittedly gone without a good wiping down in a few days.  And what do you know!  Cleaning the cooked on mess was a breeze.

Now, none of this is going to make me like cleaning any more than I already do (which I don’t).  But cleaning is a necessesary evil and if you’ve gotta do it, you might as well make it as easy as possible, right?  Luckily, I’ve got Mr. Clean and his fabulous Magic Eraser on my side.

For some great cleaning tips, check out the BlogHer website!

This is a compensated review. I received product samples from Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and BlogHer.

Rita Arens of Surrender, Dorothy is the brainchild of this heartwarming anthology.  She worked so hard for months on this project, contacting bloggers to contribute, pitching the book to publishers and working with BlogHer to finish the job.  The result is a clever, funny, touching and humbling book that belongs on every mother’s bookshelf.  Seriously, they should pass this out in the maternity ward along with the striped caps and newborn pacifiers.

And remember when I said there were some fabulous bloggers involved in this book?  There are essays from Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, and Rancid Raves (to name a few).  There’s even a daddy blogger in there.

This was the sort of book I could take with me and read on the go, curl up with at night and sink into or whatever my schedule happened to dictate that day.  Within the pages you’ll find advice and, more importantly, camaraderie.  After all, part of what makes blogging so successful is that it reminds us that we’re not alone.  Regardless if the topic is breastfeeding, returning to work, sleep (or the lack thereof) or how being a mother just utterly changes you, this book covers all the bases.

This book makes me proud to be a mommy blogger.  I can see what blogging can accomplish, what it really is all about.  I highly suggest you pick up a copy.  And then grab another copy to give your best friend.

To read more about the book and it’s contributors (and to see if there’s a book signing taking place near you), check out the BlogHer website.

Oh, did I say picky eater?  I meant the PICKIEST eater.  Ya’ll, this child didn’t even like baby food.  Not even the cereal.  He hated being fed anything with a spoon and we had to fast-track table food.  And even then, it’s been a constant challenge to find anything that he’s even remotely interested in putting in his mouth, much less swallowing.  Enter… Yoplait.

If it weren’t for yogurt, I’m sure he would have starved to death by now.  There have been times in the last year that yogurt was the best source of protein and vitamins he would get in a day (besides milk, of course).  And God bless them, Yoplait makes it easy.  They have an entire line of kid-friendly yogurts.  From the big kid friendly Go-Gurt and Fizzix squeezable yogurts, to the almost-big kid friendly Trix yogurt (that comes in some pretty day-glo colors and interesting flavors) to the more baby-friendly Yoplait Kids, these guys have your bases covered.

In the morning, when I know that feeding Liam breakfast is going to be a challenge, I like to take a Yoplait Kids smoothie and mix it in a sippy cup with milk.  He absolutely LOVES it and I can feel good, knowing he’s getting more than just the handful of cereal puffs or jelly-filled cereal bar for nutrition.  When we are going out to dinner and finding food for Liam is all but impossible, we think ahead and grab a tub of Yoplait Kids to take along with us and feed him there at the table.  It is quite seriously the only food he will allow us to spoon-feed him (besides ice cream, of course).  And now, as he’s getting older, we’re letting him experiment with his own spoon and while he does love to make a huge mess with it, he also EATS IT.  Which is is HUGE in my book.

So beyond just RAVING about our experience with Yoplait’s kid products, I have some GREAT news for you!  Thanks to Yoplait, you can print out your very own $1.50 off coupon so you can go down and get the yogurt product of your own choosing for NEARLY free!  If you have a picky eater like me, this could be your saving grace!

Also, thanks to the Parent Bloggers Network for providing me the opportunity to host a GIVEAWAY for you!  What will you get?  A coupon for a FREE Yoplait Kids product, a Yoplait soft-sided canvas cooler (awesome for picnics at the park!) and a My First Brain Quest flashcard game to play with your pre-schooler to help build their verbal skills.  All that for FREE!  (Can I say FREE! again?)  Just leave a comment here and I’ll let random.org pick a winner for us on Monday night after midnight.  I’ll announce the winner here on Tuesday.  So what are you waiting for?  Enter!

Sorry, this constest is only open to US Residents!

Updated: Thanks to everyone who entered!  Our lucky winner is Michelle!  Check back again soon as I’m sure to have another giveaway before you know it!

Which means, that boys are gross.  See, what we knew in the second grade still holds, girls.

Potty issues aside, boys are rough on their clothes and underwear is no exception.  As I’m doing my son’s laundry I’m consistently amazed at how quickly he goes through underwear and socks.  Holes in the toes appear almost as if overnight and the waistband of underwear is worn out, and holes appear in unlikely locations.  Does he keep wombats in his pants?

Imagine my excitement when I recently was selected by the Parent Bloggers Network to try out some of Hanes new Comfort Fit Promise underwear for my son.  New underwear is never turned down around here!  And when the package arrived, I was surprised (and amused!) that my son was just as excited as I was to see what was inside.  “New underwear!  AND SOCKS!” he exclaimed.  (This is the same child who actually asked for underwear for Christmas, so I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised.)

He promised he would wear them first thing in the morning report back to me on their performance.  When he got home from school that day I asked him how they worked.  “Good,” he said, descriptive as always.

“Are they comfortable?”

“Oh yeah.  I like these better than the last ones you got me.”

Oooh.  I guess you get what you pay for, eh?  I had gone with the cheapo generics the last time.

He loved that these particular underwear were tagless so nothing itching at the back of his waist.  He seems to be sensitive to such things, moreso than I am, so I was pleased to hear that.

“Did they *ahem* stay put?”  At his puzzled look, I elaborated.  “Did they ride up at all?  Give you a wedgie?”

He grinned.  Wedgie, he understood.  “Nope.”

All in all?  A glowing recommendation from a fairly reticent 8 year old boy.  And these underwear have been through the wash a couple times now and I am VERY pleased to report that everything is holding up great.  The socks remain hole-less, the underwear still look like new and the boxers haven’t even shrunk on me.

Hanes has really held up to their reputation for quality here.  And, they’re backing it up with a promise.  The Comfort Fit Promise states that if your kid isn’t comfortable, then you get your money back.  No fooling!  Truly in this day and age of economic uncertainty, that is a “comfort” indeed.

If you stop by the Parent Blogger’s Network on 8/22, you can find out how you can some Hanes for your kid, just in time for back to school!