Egg Carton Counting

Instead of throwing out our egg cartons after the eggs were gone I decided to keep a couple of them. I wanted to do some counting activities with Squirrel. This one isn't just great for counting but also a great activity for fine motor skills.

This was a really easy learning project to put together.

All you need is an egg carton, paper, marker and small objects for counting. We used pebbles, but you could also use colored gems, marbles, mini pom poms or even cereal.

I started by cutting out little circles and writing numbers on them 1-12. You could do 8-20, but the bigger numbers are more difficult because there is only so much room in each egg space for your counting object.

I put one number circle in each egg space counting from 1 to 12.

I then had Squirrel take pebbles from the bag, one at a time, and count them into the egg carton spaces.

After doing this once I took out the numbers, mixed them up, and put them back in out of order.

Variations of this game would be to use different colored papers and different colored counting pieces (colored rocks, pom poms, beads) to work on color recognition and color sorting.

Is this something your kids would enjoy? Do you have suggestions for other variations of this counting game?

Liquid Chalkers: Unleash Creativity {review}

Disclosure: I received the product above to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. I did not receive any other compensation.

Liquid Chalkers are a great product to help inspire creativity and, in our case, boost independence and give mommy a few minutes to get some cleaning done!

As soon as these came in the mail Squirrel was ready to get creative, in his Spider Man costume he started drawing on the patio door.

Liquid Chalkers can be used on most non-porous surfaces. Our favorites are the glass patio door and the fridge. You could also use them on mirrors, glass coffee or dining room tables, contact paper and white boards. While Liquid Chalkers can be used on some chalk boards and chalk board paints you need to test them on a small area first, chalk boards and chalk board paints tend to be porous and the marker may not come off.

Liquid Chalkers are non-toxic, have bright/bold colors with a heavy duty chisel tip so you can write with precision yet use the wider side to fill in color. The ink does not run nor is drippy, keeping messes at bay.

These Chalkers are also really easy to wipe off, simply grab a towel and wipe! You can even wipe them off with just your finger.

They can be purchased in a 4-pack of either colors (yellow, pink, green, blue) or all white or in a colorful 8-pack (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and white).

When the makers arrive they aren't quite ready to use, but don't worry, it only takes a few seconds to prep them so they are ready to go.

First remove the cap and use a non porous surface (I used the top of the cap) to press down on the tip of the marker. Give it a couple taps and you'll see the ink start to flow into the tip of the marker. As soon as it's there, you're ready to start drawing!

Squirrel and I had a little drawing session one rainy day while his brother napped. We practiced writing letters and our names and we drew some flowers.

I had a chance to test out all of the colors.

Squirrel has really enjoyed these. He is often asking if he can draw on the window. I know Bug would enjoy them too, but I can not trust him with any sort of writing utensil... because he goes straight for the walls!

Not too long ago I was thinking that it might be nice to paint the side of the fridge with chalk board paint so that the kids would have the lower surface to write on and I could put a calendar on the upper surface. Well, Liquid Chalkers made that idea come to life... and I didn't even need chalk board paint. As you can see the colors are all very bold, even the yellow shows up really well!

I made the calendar so each box was the same size as the photo magnets. I then wrote re-occuring events on each of the photo frames and I just move them along through the month, that way I have the space in the box to write other things that come up on those days.

I am also looking forward to using these in some of our home school activities. Being that Squirrel is the oldest I would like to hang on to some of the printable worksheets we use. So instead of writing directly on some of those sheets I can put them in a page protector and have him write on the page protector. Then it will easily wipe off and they are ready to be used again by Squirrel later in the year or I can hang on to them for his brother when he starts school.

Liquid Chalkers would make a great gift for anyone; kids, adults, moms, teachers!

Buy it: Liquid Chalkers can be purchased on Amazon in the 8-pack or 4-pack or on their website. 

Connect with Liquid Chalkers on Facebook and on Twitter!

Who would you buy Liquid Chalkers for? What would you do with them? 

Please share your creative ideas!

Rock-A-Bums Giveaway {Ditch Disposables Hop}

Welcome to the Ditch the Disposables Giveaway Hop, hosted by So Easy Being Green.

This giveaway hop is dedicated to all the wonderful, reusable products available. A fabulous group of bloggers have come together to offer you some great giveaways of reusable products so you can... ditch the disposables! Be sure to hop around to all the blogs involved on the linky below and don't miss the Ultimate Green Family Grand Prize worth $320!

For this giveaway Just Me and the Boys has a Rock-A-Bums sponsored prize package of one Rock-A-Bums 5-in-1 cloth diaper (new style) with two inserts and a wet bag ($25 value)!

Rock-A-Bums now has a new diaper design. This new design has some great features including a new fabric lining which is exclusive to RAB, PUL tummy panel to protect from leaking for those tummy sleepers, new snap design (velcro option still available) and two pocket openings! I loved Rock-A-Bums 1.0, check out my review! I will be doing a review of their 2.0 soon, can't wait to see the improvements!

Enter below for your chance to win!
Open to US residents 18+.

Entry-Form

Good luck on ditching the disposables - now increase your odds of winning the best reusable products by entering more giveaways in the Hop, including the Ultimate Green Family Grand Prize!

This prize includes a $50 Gift Certificate to Glass Dharma, glass straws handmade in the USA, and a Softbums Cloth Diaper Starter Kit {includes a wet bag, 3 shells, and 6 inserts! You'll also find the new Merry & Bright Tote Collection from SnapSac resuable bags, a $50 GC to Lunapads.com, and a roll of 12 Unpaper Towels from TheUnpaperTowel.com!

ENTER THE GRAND PRIZE.

So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, Just Me and the Boys, and the Ditch the Disposables participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Ozeri Precision Digital Bath Scale Review

Disclosure: I received the pictured product to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. No other compensation was received.

Let me just start by saying I absolutely love this scale! I was a little bummed the first time I used it though, but that was because my ex-scale wasn't so honest and frequently lied to me. So when I got on this scale and saw that I was actually about 4 lbs heavier than my ex-scale told me I was, I was a little disappointed. I got over that quickly though because I knew just how accurate the scale was and I was no longer being lied to.

The day before this scale arrived Bug and Squirrel both had child well checks. When I put Bug on the scale, I got the EXACT number as the scale at the clinic and Squirrel's weight was only different by a few ounces. This is how I knew the scale was accurate!

The scale came out of the box almost ready to use. All I had to do was put in the battery (lithium 2032), which was included!

The Ozeri Precision digital bath scale doesn't require manual calibration. The scale knows when it has been moved around. So to get the accurate result after transporting or moving the scale, simply step on the scale then step off. You will see a weight then the letter C will appear. Once the screen goes blank step back on for your calibrated, accurate weigh in!

Some of the other great features of this scale include the ability to switch between pounds, Kilograms and British stones, easy to access battery panel, grippy feet for a no-skid experience... 

...accurate weight measurements up to 400 lbs (180 Kg), step-on activation (no off/on switch), easy to read widescreen LCD, with a platform made from impact resistant tempered glass which is super easy to clean...

... and an extremely thin design.

The Ozeri Precision scale would be perfect for anyone who needs to track weight accurately. This will really come in handy for me to track my weight gain during (and hopefully the loss of weight after) pregnancy. It will also be great for keeping track of my children's growth.

It is also great for those who have decided to undergo a weight loss challenge or for those who want to keep their weight at a steady place.

If you are looking for a new scale, this is definitely the one I recommend!

You can purchase the Ozeri Precision Digital Bath Scale on Amazon.

What would you like to have accurate weight tracking for? Personal daily use, weight loss, pregnancy weight gain, keeping track of your children's growth?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Safety Tat Quick Stick Write-On Review and Giveaway

Being in a crowded public place with my children has always made me nervous. It was the point at which I could no longer strap Squirrel into his stroller that I needed to come up with a plan in case we got separated.

At first I wrote my number on a piece of paper and put it in his pocket. I told him that if we got separated it was important that he stayed where he was then tell a nearby mommy that he was lost. He would then give her the piece of paper with my number so she can call me and I can find him.

But, when he does get out of my sight (not even lost) he freaks out. He cries and doesn't communicate well. I know that if he were in a situation where he needed the number in his pocket he would be too panicked to remember it was in his pocket.

Safety Tat has the product that would replace the need for my son to remember to pull out a number. Safety Tat makes a temporary tattoo that is easy to apply to your child's forearm. You can then write your phone number right on the tattoo. Your child will have easy access to your phone number in the event you get separated.

Safety Tat comes with everything you need to apply your child's tattoo; instructions, cleansing cloths, 6 tattoos and a marker.

Applying the tattoo is very easy and these quick-stick write on tattoos do not require water:

Step 1: Thoroughly clean area using one of the provided wipes, allow to dry completely.

Step 2: Peel tattoo from large backing.

Step 3: Place on child's skin and hold palm on tattoo firmly for 20 seconds.

Step 4: Remove top top layer.

Step 5: Write mobile number on the tattoo using the marker included in the kit.

To remove the tattoo hold skin firmly and pull low and slow, similar to how you would remove a Band-aid.

Squirrel wore this for a few hours. Shortly after applying it I noticed one side was starting to peal off. I think this was my error when putting it on. I don't think I held firmly enough on the one side. Shortly before I removed the tattoo Squirrel took a 20 minute bath. After the bath I checked the tattoo and it had not lifted any further even though it had been a few hours and he played in the bath for 20 minutes.

Connect with Safety Tat on Facebook!

Buy It:  You can purchase the tattoos from Safety Tat's website.

Win It: Safety Tat is offering one of my readers the same 6-pack of Quick Stick Write-On Safety Tats that I reviewed. With three gender neutral images; surf board, frog and mouse. Enter on the widget below!

Open to residents of US and Canada ages 18+.

Winner will be e-mailed with in 24 hours of giveaway close. 

Winner has 48 hours to respond to e-mail and claim their prize before a new winner is chosen.

Entry-Form

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Fun Bites Review

Disclosure: I received the product below from FunBites to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I was not compensated in any other way.

FunBites was created by a mom who wanted to find a better way to cut up foods for her picky eater. Not only did FunBites make it quicker to cut up foods, it also offered a more fun way to display and eat foods, giving picky eaters a new reason to want to eat what was on their plate!

FunBites makes food cutters in fun shapes like hearts, triangles and squares. These food cutters can be used on multiple types of foods.

For the review Squirrel picked the triangle shaped fun bites!

Some of the foods we cut with fun bites include apples, PBJ sandwhices, meat and cheese sandwiches and chicken/cheese quesadillas. 

I think I liked using Fun Bites best on fruits. While I liked having the sandwiches in smaller pieces I often had the bread split open in the smaller triangles, which I suppose didn't really matter. While some things seamed to take longer to cut up this way, others were much quicker. 

Squirrel thought it was pretty cool eating his apples and sandwiches shaped like little triangles. 

As a matter of fact, right now he is asking for triangle apples! So, I took a break from writing the review and he took a break from his craft project for a Honey Crisp apple cut into triangles... (yes, I left the skins on, wouldn't want him to miss out on those vitamins and nutrients).

Take a guess, how many triangles do you think I got out of one apple?

I bet you are wondering how it works...

This is what the product looks like when it arrives. The popper nests into the cutter. This is how you should keep them when not in use, whether you put them in the dishwasher or in the cupboard for storage.

This is what the product looks like when you separate the popper from the cutter.

To cut your food simply remove the popper, place cutter on top of food and rock back and forth (you can push hard!). Then place the popper back in the top of the cutter and pop the food out.

It is so easy your kids can even cut their own food! I didn't give Squirrel the opportunity, but I hate food waste, so I cut with precision to get the most out of the foods I am cutting.

While this product can be washed in the dishwasher it is recommended to wash by hand. It is a bit tedious to wash depending on what you cut with it, and how much got on the cutter. Peanut butter for instance, was the most difficult to wash off. It didn't take long to wash the cutter for the other foods I used it on.

Visit FunBites.com to purchase FunBites food cutters and to see images of some fun ideas to get your little one to eat healthy!

You can also connect with Fun Bites on Facebook and Twitter!

Do you think this would help diminish food wars in your home? Which shapes would you like?

Mary Kay TimeWise Trial Miracle Set Giveaway {Treat Yourself Giveaway Hop}

We're just a couple of weeks away from Halloween and there's one thing that's on everyone's mind... treats! Welcome to the Treat Yourself Giveaway Hop, hosted by So Easy Being Green and Viva Veltoro! In this Hop, you'll find lots of special treats to keep you entering giveaways until it's time to go out and gather your own! Be sure to hop around to all the giveaways in the Hop Linky below, and don't forget the ultimate treat... the Treat Yourself Grand Prize!

For this giveaway Just Me and the Boys has teamed up with Jolene Dellwo-Mary Kay Beauty Consultant for a fantastic Mary Kay giveaway!

One lucky winner will recieve a Mary Kay TimeWise Trial Miracle Set (RV $44).  

This 30-day trial set is a great way to experience all 11 age-defying benefits of the full-sized TimeWise® Miracle Set®, clinically shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines, target skin resilience and help skin tone look more even.

Four products. Eleven skin-loving benefits. Nineteen patents worldwide. Available in a full-sized set.

The TimeWise® Miracle Set® has received worldwide media and beauty editor accolades including the Good Housekeeping Seal.

I use the TimeWise lotion on my face every day ! I love how light it is and how well it covers and moisturizes my skin! Here's your chance to love it too, unless you already do...

Enter the giveaway using the Giveaway Tools widget below.

Open to residents of the US only, 18+.

Entry-Form

Thanks for entering a chance to treat yourself to my giveaway, now it's time to hop around to all the others, including the delicious Grand Prize. One lucky Winner will be treating themselves to a Year's Supply of YumEarth Organic Candy, a Roku 3 Streaming Media Player, and 4 yummy bags of Lovely Candy Co. Superfruit Chews, Fruit Chews, Chocolate Swirl Caramels, and Chewy Original Caramels!

 

ENTER THE GRAND PRIZE

Viva Veltoro, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Treat Yourself participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.