Making His List......No Not Santa

The other day my son wanted to see the Walmart Toy ad I was looking at. He has been very curious about the ads and list I have been making so he wanted to do it too. I gave him a crayon and told him to circle the stuff he wanted Santa to bring. He has no clue what Santa is but he knows crayons are fun to draw on stuff.

But he really did point to and draw on the things he likes. He babbled a bunch about the items to. It made me laugh.

He colored on Let's Rock Elmo (we have seen the display in the store and he went nuts over it) he colored video games, a scooter and some movies and a basket ball (he has one and a ton of other balls he has been hiding them behind and under things). It makes me wonder if he really did get what I said even if he didn't say anything back.

Oh and he insisted he wear his "glasses" while he "read" the ad lol he got them when he went trick or treating at our local mall.

My son has made his list have you? What are the top items your kids want this year?

Shaun the Sheep and Angelina Ballerina Holiday DVDs Review

Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas

My son enjoys Shaun the Sheep a lot. Ha gets this silly smile on his face when he watches it. Its like a smirk. He giggles and runs about when the sheep and the dog are up to there silliness. The clay like cartooning is really cool. We have been working on Sheep say "Baaaa" its so cute when he sees the DVD case for this movie he says "Baaaaaa". I like him watching Shaun the Sheep and it even makes me laugh. This holiday DVD is really cute and I am happy to have it for our Shaun the Sheep DVD collection. If you have not seen Shaun the Sheep before its super cute and made by the creators of Wallace and Gromit.

'Tis the season to be woolly, with Shaun the Sheep and his farmyard friends. Frolic with the flock as they decorate the farmhouse for The Farmer, watch Bitzer and Pidsley battle for a spot by the fire, join a massive snowball fight and much more in these seven hilarious episodes from the Oscar winning creators of Wallace and Gromit
 
Episodes include:

• We Wish Ewe A Merry Christmas: Shaun discovers that The Farmer will be spending Christmas Day alone. The animals work through the night festooning the farmhouse with decorations so that The Farmer wakes up to the most magical Christmas that he has ever experienced.
• Snowed In: Shaun and his buddies awaken to find the farm covered in snow. But while the sheep enjoy themselves in a massive snowball fight, they are all unaware that The Farmer is snowed inside the farmhouse and trying desperately to escape.
• Fireside Favorite: Bitzer has caught a cold and The Farmer decides to tuck him up in the house to recover. In doing so, Pidsley the cat is ousted from his favorite spot next to the fire. The mean cat attempts various ways to remove the snotty dog while the sheep do their best to keep Bitzer where he needs to be.
• An Ill Wind: The Farmer receives a huge electricity bill and decides to build his own wind turbine to power the farmhouse. As soon as The Farmer's back is turned, Shaun and the flock adapt the noisy new contraption into something much more fun – a ferris wheel. It's not long before The Farmer blows his fuse.
• Bitzer's New Hat: The Farmer gives Bitzer a horrible new hat. Bitzer is very upset, as he treasured his old hat. The flock rally round to try and cheer him up with a selection of dashing alternative head-gear. Meanwhile, Shaun heads off on an adventure to find out what The Farmer did with the old one.
• Chip Off The Old Block: The Farmer has taken up sculpting, but unintentionally drops a huge slab of stone on top of Timmy's teddy. Shaun and the flock must struggle and strain to lift the heavy block and retrieve the precious toy.
• Shirley Whirley: In a bid to help move Shirley around the farm, Shaun has the idea of fitting up Shirley with wheels. Using a remote control, Shaun can now maneuver his large friend around easily – until The Farmer's TV remote interferes with the signal, causing Shirley to run amuck.

Program Website: www.shaunthesheep.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shaunthesheep

Angelina Ballerina: Holiday 3-DVD Gift Set 

 Since my son does not watch Angelina Ballerina I shared this DVD set with my husbands cousins little girl. She often talks about wanting to take dance classes and I think now she will be begging her parents to do so. I loved Angelina books as a kid and I know Sam will be sharing Angelina with her little girl once she is old enough. Even if your little girl isnt into dance Angelina is a great character that little kids will enjoy watching.

Give the gift of dance and good cheer this holiday season with Angelina Ballerina™: Holiday 3-DVD Gift Set, a collection of delightful DVDs. Celebrate the season with Angelina and all her friends as they prepare for the holiday showcase and learn all forms of dance at Camembert Academy. With games and karaoke, it’s the perfect present for little ballerinas everywhere!  DVDs in this set include Angelina Ballerina: Nutcracker Sweet; Angelina Ballerina: Love To Dance; and Angelina Ballerina: Ballet Dreams. Ages: 2-7

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Give the gift of dance and good cheer this holiday season with Angelina Ballerina™: Holiday 3-DVD Gift Set, a collection of delightful DVDs waltzing into stores October 18, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Celebrate the season with Angelina and all her friends as they prepare for the holiday showcase and learn all forms of dance at Camembert Academy. With games and karaoke, it’s the perfect present for little ballerinas everywhere!
DVDs Include:
Angelina Ballerina: Nutcracker Sweet
Waltz into the land of sugar and spice with Angelina as she excitedly prepares to perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the holiday showcase. But when too many candy canes and fruitcakes give her a tummy ache, she learns that sharing with friends is a lot more rewarding.
Bonus Features:

• "Prima Ballerina" Puzzle Game
• "Front Row Seats" Karaoke Song

Angelina Ballerina:Love to Dance
Take center stage with Angelina Ballerina on her first day at Camembert Academy as she learns about new forms of music and dance like jazz, tap and hip-hop. Angelina and her friends quickly discover that becoming a prima ballerina requires collaboration, compromise and commitment.
Bonus Features:

• "Angelina Says" Game
• "Get Up and Dance" Karaoke Video

Angelina Ballerina:Ballet Dreams
Join Camembert Academy’s shining star, Angelina Ballerina, as she finds her way in a new school, puts together her own show and tries to land a leading role in the Mouskinov Ballet. Angelina blossoms as she adjusts to her new teacher’s style and learns the importance of being a patient big sister.
Bonus Features:

• "Create Your Own Dream Routine" Game 

Program Website: www.angelinaballerina.com

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free a copy for my review.

Thomas the Train and Barney Holiday DVD Reviews

Thomas and Friends: Holiday Favorites 3-DVD Gift Set 

Choo-Choos are a big deal at our house. We live near by a Rail Station so we see Choo-Choos all the time. My has a new pair of Thomas the Train shoes and when he was watching the holiday DVDs he grabbed his shoes and pointed to the TV. He knew Thomas was on TV just like his shoes. Too cute! I enjoy the simple lessons taught in Thomas the Train DVDs and the holiday ones are just as great. There was snowmen, something new to my son and he was asking "was this" about them. The DVDs are great for any Thomas fan to have for their collection. I know we will be watching these well into January and will bring them out every holiday season.

A very, merry holiday is right on track when you present your little engineer with the Thomas and Friends™: Holiday Favorites 3 DVD Gift Set, a new collection of adventurous, holiday-themed DVDs featuring Thomas and his engine friends.  DVDs included in this set: Thomas and Friends: Merry Winter Wish; Thomas and Friends: Ultimate Christmas; and Thomas and Friends: Holiday Express. Age: 2-5
DVDs Include:
Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish
Thomas has a special delivery for the holidays - the festive and magical Star of Knapford! From building snowmen and preparing holiday surprises to attending the Misty Island Christmas party, the more the merrier. Join the fun and celebrate the season when wishes really do come true!
Bonus Features:

• Sir Topham Hatt's Frosty Friend Game

Thomas & Friends: Ultimate Christmas
This wonder-filled collection of seasonal favorites is a chance to experience the joy and magic that the holiday season brings to Sodor. Whether it's the engines thinking they've seen Jack Frost or Thomas and the gang extending Christmas kindness to stranded villagers, all the fun arrives just in time.
Bonus Features:

• 2 Sing-Along Songs
• 4 DVD Games
• Read-Along Story

Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express
All aboard for an unforgettable holiday! When you ride the rails with your jolliest friends, you can expect exciting adventures filled with lucky trucks, surprise parties, adorable snowmen and much, much more. Join Thomas, Henry, Emily and Percy for trainloads of fun and festivities!
Bonus Features:

• Sodor Sounds Game
• Cargo Challenge Game

  Website: www.thomasandfriends.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends

Barney: Holiday Favorites 3-DVD Gift Set 

My son is a huge Barney fan and I love Holiday movies so this DVD set was perfect. I enjoyed watching it with him and it had the classic Christmas stories and songs. He clapped and cheered as Barney and friends interacted with Santa. This year my son is very much aware that the Holidays mean something and he enjoys it. We had fun singing and dancing along with Barney. I know he will be enjoying these DVDs for many years to come during the Holiday months. He yelled SNOW when he saw it on the show. We have a first words DVD and "snow" was one of that words he was learning. I loved seeing him be able to recognize there was snow around Barney. This set is a perfect holiday gift for any Barney fan!

 

Have a holly jolly holiday this year with everyone's favorite purple T-rex as he and his friends ring in the joy of the season in Barney™: Holiday Favorites 3-DVD Gift Set. DVDs in this set include Barney’s Night Before Christmas Movie, Barney: Christmas Star, and HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends.

Barney's Night Before Christmas Movie
Barney and his friends spend the most wonderful time of the year on a magical journey to the North Pole as very special guests of Santa's workshop. With music in the air, and laughter everywhere, it's a dream come true as Santa unveils a holiday treat - his secret toys for Christmas!
Bonus Features:

• 2 Holiday Read-Alongs - "Barney's Christmas Surprise" and "Barney's Wonderful Winter Day"
• 10 Sing-Alongs Songs
• 5 Christmas Songs
• 8 Interactive Games
• "Behind the Scenes" - info on kids in the cast, the dinosaurs, producers and educational guide

Barney: Christmas Star
'Tis the season to be jolly with Barney and his friends! The festive fun begins with a joyful journey to find a shiny gold star for the Christmas tree and includes loads of magical, musical merriment along the way. From little drummer boys to "The Night Before Christmas," it is a holiday adventure that features ten festive songs that the whole family will enjoy!
HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends
Bundle up with your favorite preschool pals in these playful, wintertime tales. Learn the true meaning of Christmas with Barney, build a snowman with Bob, go sledding with Kipper, whistle down the snowy tracks with Thomas and laugh along as Pingu plays hilarious tricks on his winter wonderland friends.

Program Website: www.barney.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/barney
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DinoMiteBarney
YouTube: www.youtube.com/HITBarney

 

 

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free a copy for my review.

I Pooped!

My son has been talking so much more now the closer he gets to his birthday. He can do animal sounds if I ask him what the animal I say does, he says all the basics and recently has started to declare when he has pooped his diaper. Its sooo cute! He will come up to me and say "I pooped!" I appreciate him telling me and he smiles when he says it. I am hoping this is a step towards potty training since he is aware that a poopy diaper is no fun.

Rock N' Learn Colors, Shapes and Counting DVD Review and Giveaway

I have talked about Rock N Learn before here on the blog and how much JJ loves the DVD's. We recently watched another great one called Colors, Shapes and Counting. My son loves all of the characters and sings along to the songs :) As always Rock N Learn has delivered another great DVD that we have been enjoying over and over again. If you haven't checked them out by now you are really missing out, kids really do love these series!

Colors, Shapes and Counting features the comical adventures of Rollie Roundman, Trollie Triangle, and Rockford Rectangle. These playful characters help preschoolers master basic skills and concepts for the kindergarten classroom through songs, laughter, and games. Children will be so captivated by the bright, action-packed animation and stimulating soundtrack, they'll want to watch and play along over and over again.

Even gifted learners will be challenged by the advanced concepts we've included! Preschoolers review the basic colors and also learn maroon and turquoise. They discover polygons, trapezoids, the differences between a square and a rectangle, and more. They enjoy counting objects up to 20 by color, shape, or a combination of both… important preschool sorting skills.

On Colors, Shapes and Counting DVD, the comical characters come to life. Preschoolers enjoy watching so much that many parents report this is their child's favorite.

Colors, Shapes and Counting CD and book program offers an early learning experience with books that goes beyond picture stories. Young children can use the audio program independently because picture page markers help them be on the correct page as they follow along with the CD and enjoy the bright, colorful illustrations.
 

Rock 'N Learn has given us a coupon code to share with you to shop online JQ7711 for 25% off at RockNLearn.com 

GIVEAWAY
 
Win a DVD or CD of your choice from the Rock 'N Learn website

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*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts November 08, 2011 and ends on November 19 , 2011 at midnight PST.  Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

BOGS Footwear Women's Boot Review

I have had BOGS on my shoe wish list for a while now. I love how cute and durable they look. Plus I have my secret, well not so secret, desire to be a farmer! When I had the chance to review a pair of Bogs Woman's Boots I threw out a pair of old boots I had and eagerly awaited the arrival of my new ones.

I was watching the weather forecast and hoping for rain so I could do some puddle jumping. And guess what!?! The day after they arrived it rained!! Yippppy! I was jumping in puddles all for testing reasons of course.

Me wearing the boots in the Rain!

I reviewed the Classic Mid Lanai Boot. Not only are the super cute they work really well. They are comfortable, easy to take on and off, very stylish and perfect for the rainy season. Plus when the Spring comes I will be wearing them while I garden and wish for my farm!

Product info:

100% Waterproof

Durable hand-lasted rubber over a four way stretch inner bootie

Constructed with 7mm waterproof Neo-Tech insulation

Non-marking and self-cleaning outsole

Aegis anti-microbial odor protection insole

Easy-on pull handles

Comfort rated from temperate to -40°F

They also make great slip-on shoes that are perfect for running errands in (these are now the new ones on my wish list!) and lace-up shoes. There are a perfect pair of BOGS for everyone!

My son put mine on and was trying to walk around the house in them. He fell over a few times and then put them back in the closet. Too cute! I love my boots since they are stylish and comfy.

If you would like promo codes and sometimes giveaway by BOGS you can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided a free pair of BOGS Boots for this review.

We Fed Baby Fish at our Local Fish Hatchery

Living in the Sacramento valley we are lucky enough to be near the American River. There is so much to do and see at many parts all along the river at state ran parks. I have always wanted to visit the Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Folsom. We finally visited the hatchery on a nice sunny fall day. My son loves new activities and being able to feed the fish was so cool for him. He smiled so big when they would all flutter around grabbing the bits of fish food. It is only 5 cents for a big handful to feed the baby fish.

They also have a great information center with displays and a tv watching area with the process of how they are helping replenish the river. It was very informative.

We will be gong back soon to see the Salmon run. We saw huge salmon jumping out of the water at the lower part of the river near the hatchery. It was very exciting to see such big fish jumping so high.

Hours:

* Visitor Center open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Saturdays/Sundays 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Closed Christmas Day
* Opening time may vary during spawning season
* Raceways (fish rearing ponds) open daily 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
* Call for more information


Address: 2001 Nimbus Road, Suite F, Gold River, CA 95670
Directions: Off Highway 50, 18 miles east of Sacramento. Travel north on Hazel Ave. 0.7 mile, make a left hand turn at Gold Country Blvd. Travel 200 yards to the parking lot entrance on the right.

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Coupon and Recipe

With holiday baking season gearing up, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker is offering a discount of $1.50 off (a savings of up to 30%) on any chocolate bar 3 oz or above. The coupon is available for a limited time on the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker page on Facebook. Simply "Like" the page and print the coupon at home to redeem at stores nationwide. Everybody loves chocolate! I know I will be making some awesome treats this holiday season.

Scharffen Berger chocolate is made from the world's best cacao beans using a small-batch, artisanal chocolate making methods. The product line includes chocolate bars of varying cacao percentages and flavors, as well as home baking products. More information may be found at www.ScharffenBerger.com.

CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

INGREDIENTS

• Unsalted butter for the pan
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 l/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 9 ounces SCHARFFEN BERGER 62% semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons SCHARFFEN BERGER cacao nibs, crushed with rolling pin

PREPARATION

Cut a 9 by 17-inch piece of parchment paper. Lightly butter a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan, and line it with the parchment paper, letting it extend evenly over two opposite sides.
Stir together the cream, sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a pot with a heavy bottom, and clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot. Bring to a boil and then continue to cook until the mixture reaches 250°F. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Add the chocolate and stir with a heatproof spoon or spatula until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer with a small offset spatula.
Once the caramel has started to set, sprinkle with the nibs and press them in gently. Allow the caramels to cool at room temperature until firm, at least 2 hours.
Lift the caramel block from the pan, using the parchment paper "handles," and place on a cutting board. Dip a knife in hot water, dry, and cut the caramels into 1-inch squares, heating (and drying) the knife as necessary.
Store the caramels in an airtight container.
MAKES 81 CARAMELS

I had to cut a few stands of my sons hair!

My sons curly locks!

My son has not had a hair cut since he was born. I love his sweet curls and he looks dashing! I get the mix between oh my hes gorgeous to your little girl is adorable. My plan was to not cut it until his first birthday, then after that passed I said ok not until his second birthday. Well I have not official cut it yet but I did have to snip off a few stands of his hair.

We are almost out of Halloween candy and my son has been doing great with only having a little bit each day. He knows there is goodies in his bucket and I have to hide it from him. I only give him the chocolate ones after learning a lesson about sticky candy.

He has had gummy candies before with no problem. I always tear it into tiny pieces so he does not choke on it. But on Halloween night he got a bit wild when we let him go through his bucket. After an hour of playing with his candy, putting it in the bucket then pouring it out and taking a bite of each kind he handed me to open. He started to cry and tug at his hair. To my surprise my sweet boy had gotten a gum drop tangled up in his curls! He was pulling it as hard as he could to get it out only making it more tangled. I tried a little water to get it out but he only cried more. So I had to have my husband cut off some of his curls to get the candy out. My son was thrilled to have it out of his hair and I was tickled that his first "hair cutting" experience was on Halloween.

Auntie Anne's At- Home Baking Kit Review

I have always loved a warm soft pretzel. They taste so good! I was excited to see that Auntie Anne's made a At-Home Baking kit so I can enjoy pretzels anytime I want. For the last 9 months I have started trying to cook and bake more. I have found a great joy in creating food. When I saw the recipe for pizza using Auntie Anne's Baking Kit I knew I had to try it. My son loves pizza but only if its soft and fluffy. I thought this pizza pretzel recipe would be perfect for him.

Recipe on the side of the box for pizza.

A great coupon for BOGO for Auntie Anne's locations. We have one in our local mall.

All the items included in the kit.

I prepared the yeast pack in warm water and poured the pretzel mixture in another bowl.

After mixing the two ingredients I made it into a dough ball.

All the items I need to make a great pizza.

After I made the dough ball I covered it and sat it in the window to rise. I let it rise for 30 minutes, I did laundry while I waited so it was not time wasted! After it had risen to be very big I twirled it and stretched the dough to make it the shape of my pizza pan. Then I added the pizza sauce, cheese and peperoni. It was really easy to make and I was looking forward to seeing how it turned out.

The pizza turned out perfect! It was just what I expected and more. It was a deep dish soft fluffy pizza that my son devoured! He can be picky about pizza if its over cooked or not the right taste. I loved it too. The pizza crust was so fluffy and a tad sweet. We both ate a few slices each. It was even awesome cold the next day for lunch. I will definitely be buying this again for pizza and to make pretzels. Its a great and frugal way to have a name brand food item at home.

If you like Auntie Anne's pretzels like we do you should "like" them on facebook too. You can sign up for Pretzels Perks to get coupons and discounts. We also follow Auntie Anne's on twitter for updates and more.

Here is a useful Auntie Anne's YouTube video on how to make the perfect pretzel.




*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for a Auntie Anne's At- Home Baking Kit for this review.
I wrote this review while participating in a Blog Friendly PR campaign on behalf of Auntie Annes. I received a sample for my participation, all opinions are my own