Getting Ready for Halloween With Books!

Halloween is right around the corner, and what better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with books! I'm so lucky that Luke enjoys reading as much as I do. We sit down almost every night and read a story. Most nights we read the same story 4 or 5 times because that is what he likes to do. I love it when I can get Luke excited about holiday's that are coming up with books! We have been recently reading some Halloween books that were given to us by Scholastic!

I absolutely love Scholastic books! They always seem to have something new and fun. Luke and I have both been enjoying the books we were sent. I wanted to make sure we shared them with you, so that way you can get some Halloween books for your children and start reading!

The first one I want to share with you is Clifford's Halloween by Norman Bridwell

This book of course features Clifford the big red dog in his own Halloween adventure! This book is very cute and if your child loves Clifford the t.v. show then they are sure to love listening to this book!

The next one is Spooky Boo! A Halloween Adventure by Lily Karr & Kyle Poling

This is by far Luke's favorite Halloween book. It is filled with flaps to lift, different types of mirrors and even icky touch and feel things like "gum" ! You will see all kinds of things as you read this book and go through the haunted house. This is very cute and keeps Luke's attention throughout the whole book. For some reason he has been calling this "stinky bomb" and asks to read it every night!

Next up is Frangoline and the Midnight Dream by Clemency Pearce & Rebecca Elliot

Good Girl Gone Bad! An adorably dark picture book about the naughty midnight exploits of an impish little girl

This book is a bit dark for my taste. We don't read this as often as the others, but it does have a cute rhyme to it and it does talk about little ones being in bed when it's time for bed.

The last book is The Sleepless Little Vampire by Richard Egielski

This is a cute book about what is keeping the sleepless little vampire awake at night. It's a great read, at a great pace and I even found my 10 year old niece reading this out loud to Luke!

These are all great Halloween reads that are sure to get you in the spirit for the holiday! You can head over Scholastic to check out these and other great reads!

I was provided with the mentioned books for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Great Costumes At Wholesale Costume Club~Review!

It's the time of year when everyone is looking for the perfect Halloween costume. I know that I start thinking of ideas for Luke's costume months before Halloween. I love to find the perfect costume, that is not only cute, but funny, and is something that he loves. I love the idea of buying Hallween costumes online because I can usually find something that no one else in my neighborhood has. There's nothing worse during Trick or Treat, in my opinion, than walking down the street with 1654621 other little monsters that look just like your little monster! Wholesale Costume Club has an awesome selection of unique costumes for everyone, at any age!

Wholesale Costume Club has just what I was looking for! Browsing their boys costumes, I saw several that would be great for Luke! Luke was a Dragonasaurus last year and he loved it!

Wholesale Costume Club has an awesome selection of kids costumes too! After careful deliberation, Luke and I decided on the Peanuts Snoop Costume!

Bring the Peanuts gang home to your family with this Child Peanuts Snoopy Costume. Boys and girls can enjoy this Snoopy costume that features a plush white shirt with paws and pants, paw shoe covers, and a Snoopy hood mask with a red collar. The Snoopy outfit is available in one small size that will fit most toddlers in sizes 4 to 6. This is the ultimate in cute and adorable Halloween costumes and you won't find this costume at a lower price in any retail store or internet site. Your child can have a blast flying around the neighborhood in his Sopwith Camel just like Snoopy for candy and treats on Halloween. Add even more to the fun of the Snoopy costume with an authentic looking Bone. Be sure to check out all of the costume ideas for men, women, and children of all ages available here. 

* Includes a head, shirt, pants and shoe covers.
* This is an officially licensed costume.
Available Sizes: Size: Small (Fits most sizes 4-6X)

My Thoughts

We decided on the Snoopy Costume because, thanks to Happiness is a Warm Blanket Charlie Brown DVD, Luke has grown to love snoopy. I knew that it was either Spongebob or Snoopy and I was thankful that Luke chose the Snoopy costume because I didn't want Luke to be the millionth Spongebob to walk down the street.

When we got the Snoopy costume in the mail, Luke knew exactly who he was and couldn't wait to try it on! This costume fits sizes 4-6x so I was positive it would fit Luke perfectly. When in doubt, always order larger than you think, you can always make too big work, but sometimes you can't make too small work.

This costume did fit Luke perfectly and was way too cute! I had him look at himself in the mirror, and he loved that he looked like Snoopy.

In Ohio, you never know if it is going to be warm or cold on trick or treat night so it's best to get something warm. This costume is heavy enough to keep him warm with clothes underneath, which is great!

This costume feels high quality and I should be able to pass it down to someone else next year! I can't wait to see what everyone has to say about his cute costume, and I love that Luke can now dress up like a doggy!

I received the Peanuts Snoopy Costume for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

10 Tips for De-cluttering & Organizing the Playroom!

I am by no means a neat freak, but I do love to keep my home organized. There is nothing worse than needing something and not being able to find it. One area that is in constant need of organizing is Luke's bedroom. We don't have a playroom so all his toys are kept in his bedroom. The older Luke gets, the more toys he accumulates, and it became apparent to me that I had to find a good way to organize his toys or else they were going to run us out of house and home! I have compiled 10 tips for De-cluttering and Organizing the Playroom to help you get those toys under control!

1. First thing to do is go through all the toys, books and stuffed animals. Make sure to throw away anything that is broken. Toys that are missing pieces need to be thrown out, or if I think I can find another use for them, I might hold onto them. This is a good start to weeding through to the good stuff.

2. Decide what you are going to keep and what needs to be handed down or sold. Sometimes you just have to part with some toys that do not get played with anymore. If Luke outgrows a toy and it is age appropriate for my niece Londyn, I give it to my mom to keep at her house for her to play with when she is there. You can sell unwanted toys in a yard sale or online, or donate them to goodwill or your local daycare facility. As long as the toys are not overly worn and are still in working order, someone will get some use out of them.

3. Ok, now that we have gotten rid of the toys we no longer want, it's time to do something with the toys that we want to keep. I bought a toy storage bin like the one pictured to store Luke's toys. I try to have one bin for electronics, a few for cars, a couple for action figures and so and so forth so everything has a place. This is much easier when he is looking for that one particular toy for him to find what he is looking for. I love how much better this makes his room look too.

4. Does your child have an overabundance of stuffed animal friends? Well, Luke has his own little collection and we use a corner net to hold these. You hook it up on the corners, close to the ceiling and pile the stuffed animals in! This holds a great deal of weight and keeps the little buddies up off the floor, organized and pretty to look at too!

5. I like to make sure that all the pieces to certain toys are kept together. Like Mr. Potato Head, what fun is Mr. Potato head when you can't find his teeth, or hat or feet? I bought a small plastic tote and use this to keep all his pieces in one spot. When Luke is done playing, all the pieces go back inside so everything is kept together for next time. You can use these small plastic totes for everything from cars and trucks to crayons and coloring books!

6. If you are working with limited space, try to use every nook and cranny that you can. I put a shelf in on the top of Luke's closet. Now I can store more toys on the shelf and keep up off the floor. I also use the inside of his closet for bigger items like his shopping cart and sweeper. I have some bigger toys under his bed as well, like his Magnadoodle. If they are flat, they fit and we know where they are at all times!

7. For organizing books, you can use plastic crates, baskets, or tubs to store books. Luke had a changing table that turned into a night stand and we use the shelves on it for his books!

8. If you are still lacking on room, store out of season toys in totes upstairs or in your basement/garage. Luke has a ton of sand toys and toys that are just for summer. At the end of summer, these go in a tote and go upstairs until next summer. This way they aren't taking up valuable space in his room, and when it's time to take them out again, they are like brand new to him!

9. Be creative. You don't have to spend a ton of money on organizing supplies and tools. Just put a little thought into it. It cost me less than $5 to put the shelf in Luke's closet. We reused the changing table for books, I even saw someone use plastic buckets, they drilled holes in them and used zip ties to tie them together to make a toy organizer! You just have to be a little creative!

10. My last tip is to let your kids help you with organizing. That way they will feel like they have a say so in what goes and what stays and they may not fight you as much on what you want to get rid of. It will teach them about organizing, and teach them about donating to those less fortunate, and who knows, they may just take more pride in their rooms and help to keep them clean!

And, to help you in keeping organized Hot Wheels® has introduced the all-new Wall Tracks™ sets to help moms everywhere clean up toy clutter! Hot Wheels® has been listening to moms and found that we couldn't stand the mess from our kids’ toys.

Kids can now take their Hot Wheels® races where they've never gone before - off the floor and onto the walls! Now they can perform stunts, speed, turns, and tricks, powered by gravity and set up any way you can imagine it - and it’s off the floor! Kids can mix, match, and combine with other Wall Tracks™ sets to create all-new Hot Wheels® track layouts. And the best part? No more clutter for us moms! Luke has seen these advertised on t.v. and this is one of the only two toys that he is asking from Santa!


Now, lets get busy organizing our playrooms! Before you know it, there will be more toys to add to the mix!!!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner Review & Giveaway!

I have another awesome review and giveaway from Tropical Traditions. I have been really enjoying working with Tropical Traditions and trying out their organic and all natural products. I would have never known there were so many healthy alternatives for cleaning and beauty products if it weren't for working with them. This time I chose to review their All Purpose Cleaner!

Safe & non-toxic, this solution is for all your household/commercial cleaning needs! Replace all of your harmful, toxic cleaners with Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner! This environmentally safe botanical mixture contains no harmful detergents or solvents, no perfumes or dyes, and is easy to use! Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner is an enzyme-based botanical formula that can cut through the toughest grease or dirt, and is completely non-toxic.

Kitchens

Spray Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner on counter tops, stove tops, ovens, refrigerators and sinks and wipe clean. For more difficult areas, let sit for a longer period of time. May also be used as a dishwashing liquid in the sink or dishwasher. Put in soap dispenser or foamer and use for hand soap. Cuts grease, wax and oil.

Bathrooms

Spray Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner in the bathtub, sink and toilet. Wipe and rinse. Also spray on soap scum, mold and mildew; leave on for several minutes, then wipe and rinse clean.

Automobiles

Use 1-2 oz. Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner in 1 gallon of water when washing car.

Exterior: For bugs, tree sap and tar, spray directly on the area. Let sit for a few minutes, then wash off with water and a clean cloth. Works great for removing grease, dirt & oil!

Tires: Spray directly on tires. Let sit several minutes, then gently scrub with a brush and rinse clean.

Engine: Spray directly on cool engine. Let sit for up to 30 minutes, then wipe or spray clean.

Fruits/Vegetables

Spray on fruits/vegetables, then rinse clean.

Laundry

Pre-spray stains and spots with Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner. Use 1-3 ounces in wash cycle. Heavily soiled or large loads: Pre-spray stains and spots. If especially greasy or soiled, allow to soak for at least 30 minutes or even overnight if necessary, then wash as normal. Works great for removing blood, grease, wax, dirt & oil!

Soot/Tar/Grease/Grills

Spray directly on surface and let sit for several minutes. Scrub with a brush and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Repeat if necessary.

Other Uses

Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner can be used on carpets, walls, and floors. May also be used as carpet shampoo. (Substitute carpet shampoo with Household Traditions All Purpose Cleaner when cleaning.)

My Thoughts

I chose this as my next review because of the different uses for this cleaner. An awesome non-toxic all purpose cleaner is always great to have around the house. I love that I can use this and not worry about toxic chemicals. So far I have used this in my kitchen on the counters and even to clean up a spill on the floor. It worked great and even left a shine behind! Do you see that you can use this on fruits and veggies too! Just spray them off and rinse! This is something that you would want in each of the rooms in your house so that you can have it handy and ready to clean anything! And at $6.99, you can't go wrong!

One of my readers is going to win their own All Purpose Cleaner!

Mandatory Entry

Head over to Tropical Traditions and have a look around. Come back here and tell me another product you would like to try.

Extra Entries

1 Extra Entry: Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter

If you already have, leave me a comment telling me.

1 Extra Entry: Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter

2 Extra Entry: Follow my blog on GFC

2 Extra Entries: Subscribe to my emails

2 Extra Entries: "like" Lil Bit of Us on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: For any of my other giveaways you enter!

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry every day. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win All Purpose Cleaner from Tropical Traditions http://t.co/dpcJHgS8 @Troptraditions @getinonthewins

3 Extra Entry: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 10/18 at 10pm. This giveaway is open to US and Canada. I will pick a winner using random.org and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. I received the All Purpose Cleaner for review purposes only and was not compensated in any other way. These are my own honest opinions.

Jumpstart Online Games Review & Giveaway!

I don't know about your kids but Luke loves to play online games. He had been seeing the commercial for Jumpstart games and started asking to play it. I was excited when they agreed to do a review and giveaway so Luke would get the chance to try the games out!

For more than 15 years, Knowledge Adventure has set the standard in kids’ software by creating the finest educational products for use in the home and the classroom. In addition to our CD games, we’ve launched a browser-based virtual world at www.JumpStart.com, for kids 3-10 years old. Kids can create avatars called Jumpeez for themselves and explore magical worlds, discovering and unlocking games, videos and storybooks that teach everything from math to reading. Over the next year, we will continue to add more features, portals and learning games to this site.

I always try to make sure that the games that I let Luke play are educational in some way. With Jumpstart.com there is no doubt that these games are educational and that Luke is learning something by playing them.

My Thoughts

Luke needs a little bit of help playing these games. Which I don't mind because it gives me an excuse to sit down and play with him. The first thing that you get to do is make your own Jumpee. You get to fully customize your avatar to make it just how you want it.

Once you have your Jumpee made you can explore the different areas of the game. There are all kinds of different areas to explore, which keeps Luke intersested! So far his favorite land is Storyland, this is the one he wants to go to the most. Storyland has more than 70 games that teach over 75 different skills!

This land is aimed at 3-5 year olds and helps them with abc's, sounds, numbers etc.

Your child can also earn coins by playing games, and they can use these coins to personalize their world even more by purchasing house decorations, pets, rides, and clothes! That aspect is still a bit advanced for Luke but I try to help him, and he catches on a bit more everytime we play. Luke mostly needs help navagating to and from each different land but he is getting the hang of it.

If you have older children, Jumpstart would be great for them as well because there are worlds that go up to age 12!

There is also a parents section to Jumpstart where you can manage the settings for each child, or link to Facebook so you can track your childs progress!

I love that this game has such a wide age range, so that it will grow as Luke grows, and learns new skills. I think this game will help get him ready for Kindergarten too!

Jumpstart wants to give one of my readers a their own 3 month membership!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me who you would like to win this for

(You must leave a seperate comment for each entry)

Extra Entries:

2 Extra Entries: Follow my blog on GFC

2 Extra Entries: Subscribe to my emails

2 Extra Entries: "Like" Lil Bit of Us on Facebook

1 Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this daily for an extra entry everyday. You can use this sample tweet:

#Win a 3 month membership to Jumpstart! http://t.co/DnxtlaAW @getinonthewins #giveaways

1 Extra Entry: For each of my other giveaways you enter

3 Extra Entries: Put my button on your blog and leave a link

5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 10/18 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. I received a free membership for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Kneebouncers App Free Today~Great for Toddlers!

If you have a smart phone, Ipad, or Ipod Kneebouncers is giving their app away today for free!! Kneebouncers is an awesome website where your toddler can play games!

5 great BIG games for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in one great little app. KneeBouncers Big Little Games Vol 1 includes:

■Choo Choo: A train, a car, a tractor and LOTS of fun!


■Big Top: KneeBouncers perform in a three-ring circus.


■Pop-a-Lot: You’re little one will love what pops up next!


■It’s Colorific: Bright balloons and amusing characters help make this intro to colors a whole lotta fun


■The Alphabet Game: Is it a letter-learning tool or just plain tot entertainment? Both.

Take advantage of this offer while you can! It's great!

Go to kneebouncers.com to download the free app! Hurry, because they are only giving it out for free for a limited time. I wish I had a smart phone or Ipad or Ipod or something!!

Glee Season 2 On DVD!

If your a fan of Glee, Season 2 is out on DVD!

Summary: TV's musical sensation, “GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON comes to Blu-ray and DVD September 13th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment packed with all 22 episodes and never-before-seen bonus features sure to incite fans everywhere to “Gleek Out.”

GLEE is a biting musical comedy about a group of eager and ambitious students who strive to outshine their singing competition to win Nationals while navigating the cruel halls of McKinley High. A pop-culture phenomenon, GLEE boasts critical acclaim, a loyal fan base of “GLEEks,” two Platinum and two Gold albums, more than 29 million song downloads, the record for the most titles on the Billboard Hot 100 by a non-solo act (beating out Elvis Presley, James Brown and The Beatles), an incredible 19 Emmy nominations - earning it the distinction of being the most-nominated series of the year - and four Emmy Awards. To top it off, the genre-defying, award-winning series has been picked up through its third season.

“GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Blu-ray and DVD is bursting with exclusive bonus materials including the fan-favorite Glee Music Jukebox, a behind-the-scenes look at the epic Season 2 finale shot in New York City, a featurette showcasing the GLEE guest stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Carol Burnett and more, additional featurettes highlighting sensational cast performances and much more. “GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON will be available for an average retail price of $44.99 Blu-ray and $39.98 DVD respectively. Pre-book date is August 3, 2011.

Based on the smash North American concert tour, GLEE LIVE: The 3D Concert Movie will be released in theaters nationwide, for a special limited two-week engagement, on August 12, 2011.

“GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Blu-ray & DVD Features:

• Glee Music Jukebox

• Guesting on Glee

• Stevie Nick Goes Glee

• A Day in The Life of Brittany

• Shooting Glee in New York City

• Sue’s Quips

• Santana Slams

• Building Glee’s Auditorium with Cory Monteith

• The Making of the Rocky Horror Glee Show

• Exclsuive Bonus Song - "Planet, Schmanet, Janet"

• Getting Waxed with Jane Lynch

• The Wit of Brittany

• Glee at Comic-Con 2010

I don't watch very much t.v. but I do like Glee and I'm glad to have it on DVD so that I can get caught up! I love the bonus material as well!

If you're a fan of Glee or if somone on your Christmas list is..this would make a great gift or stocking stuffer!

You can purchase the Blu-Ray HERE at Fox Connect for $44.99 or DVD for $39.98 and score free shipping on orders $49 and up!

I received Glee Season 2 on DVD for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and these are my own honest opinions.

Toddler Talk Thursday!!!

It's Toddler Talk Thursdays again! I'm linking up with the fabulous hosts of this meme, My Life As A Sippy Cup Mom, Family and Life in Las Vegas, and Crazy About My Baybah!

This weeks topic is "If your toddler was a Muppet, which one would they be and why?"

Oh boy, if Luke was a Muppet! I'd have to say he would be a mixture of a lot of them. I say he is alot like Animal because he can be wild and crazy at times. When someone comes to visit that he loves, he runs crazy around the house with excitement and falls to the floor. I love his wild and crazy, funny side! I'd say he is like Kermit because he is loving and caring and kind and gentle at times. And, I'd have to say he is like Fozzy Bear because he loves to make you laugh (wakka wakka!) 

What is your toddlers favorite book?

Clorox Play2Day Pledge!

Clorox says that "Getting outside and getting dirty is one of the best parts of being a healthy and happy kid. Luckily outdoor stains are no match for Clorox 2^®"

I totally agree! What's better than getting outside, getting in the dirt and playing hard! I love getting outside and playing. Luke has found a new love of sand this summer and he can play for hours in his little sand and water table. It is very messy, but I don't worry too much about it because it's worth it to see him have fun! And hey, you don't have to have a fancy sand and water table to take advantage of sand, put some sand in an old Rubbermaid tote! Or head to your local volleyball court...our park has one! It's the best sandbox ever!

We take regular trips to the park and Luke loves to swing and to go down the slide! I think that is his favorite thing to do at the park! It is relaxing for me to go to the park and be able to watch Luke have fun, and I get to take some pictures, which is fun for me too! There are times when you can find me playing with Luke too at the park! I love being able to chase Luke around, or swing him the swing!

 

And, don't let the rain stop you! If it's still warm outside, strap on your boots (or in our case your Toy Story cowboy boots), throw on your rain coat, and go puddle jumping! This is a blast, and don't be afraid to get out there with your kids...you just might find your inner child coming out!

I always loved it when my parents would go outside with me and play Badminton or baseball. It was such a blast and I could have played for hours. This was something we continued to do clear up to when I became a teenager...and beyond! It's a great way to fit in fun and fit in some exercise! I bet you will be having so much fun, you won't realize your working out! We used to have our neighbors up to play as well! And you don't have to have a team, it can just be you and your child!

Another great way to get outside and play is taking a walk. You never know what you will see, and it's fun to point out the different wild flowers, birds, pretty rocks, and even animals you may come across.

Make sure that you get in on the fun as well because what is a better childhood memory than playing outside with your parents? And, I bet that you find yourself having fun too. Fresh air, sunshine and the great outdoors...there is nothing more relaxing to me than that!

September 24th is the Worldwide Day of Play to turn off the t.v. and get outside and play! Clorox2 is a proud sponsor of Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play and is encouraging you to take their Clorox2 Play2Day pledge to play outside! Go to http://clorox2play2day.com to take the pledge now!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Wordless Wednesday!!!

Luke loves helping around the house! Here are some pictures of him helping me with the dishes!

He is such the little helper!

And since it's been awhile since I posted pictures...here are some from a recent trip to the park!

(If you haven't noticed, I love pictures of Luke swinging)

K'nex Toys Review~Awesome Gift Ideas!

Luke is getting to the age where he likes to build and is curious about how things work. He is constantly asking me "how it works Mommy?" and he loves to use his imagination to play and to build toys. He loves it when we sit down and build a tower together and then his great imagination comes out while his toy Buzz or Woody knocks down the tower. I've been looking for different building sets for Luke, and I found that K'nex has so much to offer!

I couldn't believe the wide variety of building sets that I found while browsing K'nex site. They have everything from Sesame Street, Nascar, and even Thrill Rides!

I love that K'nex has products even for the little ones, and was thrilled when they agreed to send us some products to try out! We received the Roary the Racing Car building set, Elmo's Chilly Day building set, and a Lincoln Logs Prairie Town Mine building set!

My Thoughts

The first set that we opened was the Elmo's Chilly Day set. Luke is a huge Elmo fan so of course this is the set that caught his eye first.

Your child can build and play with Elmo! He's all dressed up in his scarf and mittens to keep warm on a chilly day! Set includes parts to build Elmo plus blocks that fit together to create a wintry tree. The colorful chunky parts make it easy for small hands to build. The "play & learn" activity sheet provides collaborative educational fun for you and your child.

This is a simple building set which is great because Luke can help to put it together. He loves to make believe with Elmo!

This set would make a cute stocking stuffer and would also make an awesome complete set when combined with the other Sesame Street building sets! Your child could have their very own Sesame Street!

The next product we received was the Roary The Racing Car building set!

Your child can build Roary the Racing Car, Silver Hatch Racetrack's #1 Star! Set includes 18 chunky pieces for easy building fun along with a trophy and road sign for exciting after-building play! Set also includes adapter that lets car run on popular train track systems you may already own. Clean up and storage is easy with the fun customized storage container! For ages 3+.

This is another great simple building set. These small building sets are great for introducing your child to this type of toy. Roary was a hit and Luke loved playing with this set and  the Elmo set together!

One of the best features about this set is that Roary comes with adapters so he can ride on train tracks! I was shocked that with the adapters, Roary could actually ride on a train track that was mine when I was little! It was a great feature and Luke loved for Roary to ride the rails!

The last set we received was the Lincoln Logs Prairie Town Mine building sets!

Build a frontier mining town with real dynamite action! Prairie Town Mine comes with 122 real wood logs, plus colorful figures and accessories. Use the dynamite lever to demolish the buildings with exploding action! Each set includes step-by-step building instructions and is packaged in a handy storage container for a quick and easy clean-up.

I loved Lincoln Logs when I was younger. These are toys that are build tough, fun to play with and last throughout the years. I was excited to sit down with Luke and build with these. We had fun building the mine, but also building our own little ideas as well!

Luke loved playing with all his K'nex toys at the same time and with his imagination, it's hard to tell what he will come up with next. One of my favorite aspects of the Lincoln Logs is that when Luke is done playing with them, all I have to do is put them back in there container for safe keeping. Easy clean up and it's great that they come with their own storage container, as does Roary The Racing Car!

I definitely recommend K'nex as a great gift idea or stocking stuffer!

I received the mentioned products for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.

Who Say's Cleaning Out Your Garage Is Only For Spring?

Seriously, who says you can only clean out your garage during spring cleaning? Saturday, September 10th was National Clean Out Your Garage Day! And, Crawford Organization is here to help!

Is your garage a hazardous haven for dents, damage and danger? A survey* of 1,000 U.S. adults revealed nearly four in 10 (39 percent) have tripped over an item in their cluttered garage, more than a quarter (27 percent) have hit an object when opening a vehicle door and 22 percent have accidentally hit something when parking. Such findings prompted The Lehigh Group, maker of Crawford® – branded garage and home workshop organization products to proclaim “National Clean Out Your Garage Day,” to take place this year on Saturday, Sept. 10.

“We established ‘National Clean Out Your Garage Day’ to occur on the first weekend after Labor Day since this is a time much of the country transitions from summer to fall and begins putting items such as bikes, lawnmowers and garden tools away for the season,” said Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs for The Lehigh Group. “This is a great time to take stock of the safety of your garage and clean out and organize as needed to make this space safer – and more functional.”

What’s the best plan of attack? The experts at The Lehigh Group offer these organizing tips:

Make Organization a Family Affair

Have old kids’ shoes, clothes and sports equipment in the garage? Invite the kids to participate. Ask them to try on boots, clothing and other gear stored there. They can pretend to put on a fashion show, and you’ll be able to determine which items are either too small or too big and should be given away.

Try It Out

The best way to determine whether you should keep, donate or throw away is to physically go through all of the lawn and sports equipment to see if it works. From there, label each piece with a tag showing its condition and the decision. Give other members of the household a chance to look it over and weigh in on the decision so nothing too sacred is accidentally tossed.

Follow Weight Guidelines

Garages provide ample wall and ceiling space that can easily be converted into storage space by installing hanging shelves, pegboards, storing rails and overhead storage systems to secure your items. For safety’s sake, be sure to follow all manufacturer instructions regarding weight limits on hooks, rails and shelving. Look for storage products that are built for strength, such as Crawford’s DuraMount™ system, which features powder-coated steel hooks rated to hold 35 lbs. or more each.

Keep It Light

Add lighting to shelves and dark corners to make it easier and safer to find the tools and equipment you need, even at night (or all day if you have a window-less garage). All of the boxes and labels in the world won’t work unless you can see what you are organizing.

Clean Items Before Storing Them

Sporting and pool equipment that will go unused until next summer needs to be properly cleaned and dried to help avoid mildew growth. Consider purchasing waterproof bins to keep any other moisture and pests away. This also is a good opportunity to check expirations and wipe down older cans of paint, pesticides and other garage goodies.

Just Sweat the Small Stuff

If your garage doubles as a workshop, use National Clean Out Your Garage Day to take stock of what you currently have, organize and properly store small, loose items, and safely store sharp tools and other objects so they remain out of reach of children. Use pegboards, tool bins and wire baskets to keep parts organized.

Crawford offers a wide variety of organization products ranging from basic hooks and tool holders to specialty items designed keep garage and workshop spaces orderly and safe. Most Crawford products retail for less than $20 and are easily found at hardware stores across the country. For more information about garage safety, visit the podcast section at www.firstalert.com. For more information about Crawford products, visit www.crawfordorganization.com.

These are some awesome tips to help get your garage cleaned out! Crawford sent me some great products to help me get organized! They have an organizer for everything and I've been able to get my shovels, rakes, brooms, mops and just about everything organized with the products they sent.

It will be so nice to be able to find the snow shovel this winter when I need it! Everything is well built, I was even surprised how heavy duty some of the organizers were! You can purchase Crawford products at Amazon, Walmart, Ace Hardware, True Value, Do It Best, Lowes, Home Hardware, and The Home Depot!

Get out there and get your garage cleaned out! You know you will feel much better and will be able to find everything when next spring rolls around!

No compensation was received for this post. I received the mentioned products for review purposes only. There are my own honest opinions.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas Review & Giveaway!

With summer winding down and fall on it's way in, I find myself wanting to bake more often. Luke loves to help me bake things and it gives us something to do indoors that is fun and creative. I'm always willing to try a new recipe or a new ingredient and Nielsen-Massey Vanillas gave me just that opportunity.

Kids are now heading back to school and the transition out of summer mode can be difficult, especially for those who would rather play in the pool than practice their spelling. During the switch from home to school, parents can comfort kids by sneaking homemade snacks—inspired by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas products— into their backpacks.

Nielsen-Massey’s Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder is a discreet, practical way to add extra flavor to some of childhood’s classic dessert recipes. Give classroom cupcakes an extra punch of flavor by stirring a pinch of Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder into the batter. Take a brownie recipe to the next level by sprinkling Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder over the treat.

“Our Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder is extremely versatile and easy to use,” said Beth Nielsen, chief culinary officer of Nielsen-Massey. “When school starts back up and schedules get crazy, using our vanilla powder can be an easy way to quickly enhance flavors.”

I was given the chance to try out their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder

Nielsen-Massey’s Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder is all natural and contains no sugar or alcohol. It is also available in organic form. It can be used in dry mixes, in liquid or color-sensitive products, and as a flavoring for beverages. Use it also to add flavor to fresh fruit or baked goods.

My Thoughts

I had never heard of vanilla powder before so I was curious to see if it really did add extra flavor to my recipes. I used this in two recipes and it tasted great. One recipe was for french toast and I think it added a better taste than the vanilla extract I am used to. I also used it in a cookie recipe and was worried that the powder would add a off color to the dough, it didn't and worked great in my cookies. It works just like liquid vanilla and mixes in so you can't tell the difference. I can't wait to try this in a fruit salad or even try adding it to a cup of cola to make a vanilla cola! I bet that would be great! If you like to bake, this would be great to try!

If your looking for a healthy, great tasting snack idea, here is a great recipe to try!

Healthy Fruit Nut Muffins

Makes 1 dozen muffins

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup plain yogurt

½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder

½ cup shredded carrots

1 cup coarsely chopped peeled apples

½ cup raisins

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup coconut

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray twelve muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg, yogurt, butter and vanilla powder and mix with a wooden spoon; do not over mix. Stir in the carrots, apples, pecans, raisins, cranberries and coconut; the batter will be thick.

Fill each muffin cup with 1/3 cup batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

One of my readers is going to win their own bottle of vanilla powder!

Mandatory Entry

Head over to Nielsen-Massey Vanillas and have a look around. Come back here and let me know another product you would like to try.

Extra Entries:

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#Win Nielsen-Massey Vanillas @getinonthewins #giveaways

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5 Extra Entries: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link

This giveaway will end on 10/11 at 10pm. I will use random.org to choose a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner. I received the mentioned product for review purposes only and no other compensation was received. These are my own honest opinions.