tales from girlhood and mommyhood

KooKoo bird review

2011-04-15T13:21:00.001-04:00

Recently Elebelly and I were sent a sample of a KooKoo Bird from Jay at Play.

To be 100% truthful I was not at all sure what a KooKoo Bird was or what to do with it once we got it. But who cares if I knew what to do with; Elebelly thought it was the cutest little addition to her collection of dolls and immediately took it right up to play with her little princess dolls in her doll house.

There are actually several types of KooKoo Birds including:

KooKoo Daddy Birds
Flocked collectibles
KooKoo Bird mini figures (which is what we were given a sample of)
and more.

I like the idea of them...I'm just not sure if we'll be collecting them all. Elebelly will definitely let me know if she wants to grow her flock of KooKoo birds.

**Full disclosure we were provided with a free sample to test and review.

Approaching five...

2011-02-18T14:43:00.000-05:00

Momma Notes:

Today is a beautiful, warm spring-ish day here in the Philadelphia area. On days like this the writing bug hits and I'm pushed outside to my covered patio to soak in the sun and fresh air with Elebelly and the dogs. In fact some of my best writing to date has come from my patio table; oh the joy of being a laptop owner!

The purpose of this post is not for me to brag about when and where I get to write. It's about Elebelly.

She's approaching five!

I cannot believe we're here; her fifth birthday a mere three months away. It gets me thinking about the Dr. Seuss book, Oh the Places You'll Go. Elebelly has just been such an amazing blessing and taken Cranky Geek Daddy and I places we never even thought we'd go...places of joy, personal challenge and personal triumph. It's amazing how one little person can make an adult so humbled and teach them so much.

Over the last four point seven five years I've truly been reminded what matters most.

FAMILY. HEALTH. CONTENTMENT.

Whatever family means to you is something very personal and it varies from person to person...can even mean something different to you and another blood relative. But it is the single most important thing in this life. Your family of relatives and friends will get you through the lowest points of your life and be there to celebrate the highest points with you.

Health is vital.

Without it, our bodies fail us and the saying "You get back what you put in" reigns true. Watching Elebelly grow into a healthy, strong-willed young lady has given me purpose to be a good example for her. What a disservice I would be doing to her if I didn't start caring more for my body inside and out.

Contentment is in the eye of the beholder.

What it means to me is different than what it will mean to Elebelly, you or anyone else. Contentment to me is working at enjoying each day I have with Elebelly, learning from her, helping her creativity blossom. It means having days like today to sit out on the patio watching her play, soaking up the sun and cool breezes. It means having the opportunity to stay home while Elebelly is young; even if it means eating a little more Ramen than I'd like, staying in and not vacationing to exotic locales often. I only have this opportunity with her once. It means focusing on the good in people and holding onto what inspires me. It means smiling and laughing daily.

So as Elebelly approaches five things on the homefront are changing again. It's kindergarten registration time. It's a time for me as mommy to reflect on everything I've learned from her so far and appreciate all the time I've had with her so far. It's a time for us to celebrate her life and all that she's brought to ours.

Giveaway over at Genesis Moments

2010-12-12T08:42:00.000-05:00

A note from Elebelly:

Mommy has a love affair with coffee (it's like me and yogurt or chocolate). She starts her day with a cup or two most days. So when she heard a fellow Philly Social Media Mom was hosting a giveaway on her blog for a Tassimo Brewbot T20, mommy said she hopped right over and entered.

She's really hoping to win this as a Christmas gift to herself...kind of like how I've been wishing for a Rapunzel doll, Pocohontas doll, Jasmine doll and Arielle doll. So hopefully she will. Oh, and I'd love it too because Mommy says it can also make hot chocolate! That would be awesome! What 4-year old doesn't like hot chocolate.

**If you want to enter the giveaway for the Tassimo too, go here.

Disney's "The Search for Santa Paws" giveaway

2010-11-21T10:00:00.023-05:00

It's that time of year again...

It seemed as though just as Halloween ended, retailers started breaking out the holiday gear. Some people may have cringed...me, not so much. I love the holiday season. I love being reminded this time of year about what really matters. Plus the colors, lights and music just makes me smile.

So what better way to celebrate the start of the winter holiday season than with a giveaway for a great kids holiday movie? Disney's The Search for Santa Paws is due out November 23rd at a US retail price of $29.99/DVD or $39.99/Blu-ray. BUT if you leave a comment below we'll use Random.org to select 1 lucky winner.

Elebelly and I watched it yesterday and will likely watch it several more times before Christmas arrives. Check out this sneak peek:

Don't forget...leave a comment below for your chance at your free copy of The Search for Santa Paws!

Norah Jones musical collaborations...Featuring!

2010-11-19T08:08:00.003-05:00

Norah Jones music is always a great choice when I need some quiet, relaxing tunes, or tunes that are not run of the mill, constantly played on the radio. Which is why I was excited to hear on the release of her collaboration cd, ...Featuring!

This album is just that...relaxing and intriguing because of her creative collaborations with a wide range of artists from various genres. We listened to it in the car with our four-year-old and just as I suspected, she was well entertained with the "girl songs". Some of the songs on the album would be great for nighttime relaxation or even getting little ones to bed; they are soothing and not overpowering. I've always been a fan of OutKast and Ryan Adams, so I was pleased to see them featured here. Not everyone will be a fan of this album, but anyone who is a Norah Jones fan (or fan of those featured on this collaboration) should definitely check it out. It's worth a listen!

More about ...Featuring!

It is a collection spanning Norah's entire singing career. She collaborated with some stellar musicians including -- Dolly Parton, The Foo Fighters, Q-Tip, OutKast, Willie Nelson, and Ray Charles. Her four previous albums sold over 40 million copies throughout the world.

“A lot of the people on this record are people I've worshiped since I was a kid, and some of them are younger and more my contemporaries,” says Norah. “Even though the musicians are so varied, the vibe of the songs makes sense when we put them all together.”

**Full disclosure, we were provided with a review copy of ...Featuring! by One2One Network in exchange for taking the time to listen and post about it.

Chester County area toddler needs help

2010-11-17T10:37:00.000-05:00

I recently found out through the Philly Social Media Moms network that there is a little boy in Chester County that was diagnosed with Leukemia and he desperately needs AB negative blood donations to help him through this battle.

I wanted to share the link to more information and the form where you can add your information if you're interested in donating blood for this local toddler. This form is copied to the parents so they can reach out directly if need be.

Hopefully this will help!

Santa Paws movie sneak peek and pre-order offer

2010-11-09T12:37:00.004-05:00

Getting in the spirit of the season isn't hard when you've got little ones running around. And we're excited to share with you this sneak peek of the Santa Paws movie and a special pre-order offer (a great gift-giving idea)!

Disney Movie Rewards has a special Pre-Order offer that includes a FREE Plush Pup! Santa Paws is due out on 11/23 so make sure you grab a copy!

Grab your copy now!

Full disclosure:

We were asked by Click Communications to share the news with you about the Santa Paws release!

2010-10-13T22:17:00.000-04:00

We recently took Elebelly out of school for a couple days to get away and visit my Aunt & Uncle in central New York (whom had never met Elebelly...she's 4). September is a fabulous time to visit the Finger Lakes and even though it rained most of our mini-road trip, we did get to do some fun things. Check it out...

We stayed at Greek Peak Mountain Resort & Hope Lake Lodge in Cortland and agreed we would definitely return! Actually, we really hope to return sometime in the winter for a snowboarding lesson and winter weekend or possibly a summer vacation.

The reason we really loved Hope Lake Lodge was because it has everything you need or want in a vacation -- spacious rooms with fireplaces and balconies, kitchenettes, on-site restaurant, activity center for the kiddos, gym (yes I did use it ;), indoor waterpark, etc. Some of their floor plans are two-stories and can accomodate up to 10 people. So staying at Hope Lake Lodge can be an extended family getaway or even a couples retreat. I would have liked the bathroom to be a little more luxurious with a spa tub, and the indoor waterpark did close early (but that was because we were there at a slow time of year). I'm sure that place is hopping during the winter and summer months. Another nice plus is that Hope Lake is within walking distance -- a great picnic and walking spot for warm summer days. And the close proximity to earth-friendly city, Ithaca, is nice too!

**Full disclosure, Hope Lake Lodge graciously provided us with a discounted room rate for the duration of our stay in exchange for sharing our trip with you.

Tinker Bell Fans...are you ready!? Save $10 on Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue.

2010-09-21T13:15:00.001-04:00

Today is the day!

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue was released on DVD and BluRay today! If you have a Tinker Bell fan at home, click here for your $10 off coupon to purchase this fab family movie. And for some fun fall crafts with your little ones, check out these activities:

Elebelly and I just love watching a good movie after a busy school or park day. It's a great way to unwind and get some rest.

And since she's a die-hard princess and Tinker Bell fan, this one was a perfect pick. We never really pushed the "girly" stuff on her; it's just innate. It seems like from the time she started talking, Elebelly was asking to wear a dress every day and to bring a favored princess of the day along for car rides.

This movie is jam-packed full of fun, adventure and lessons.

**Full disclosure - Elebelly and I were sent this movie as a courtesy for sharing it with you. We're feeling so blessed to have had the opportunity to get a pre-release copy.

Eagles Flight Night recap

2010-08-08T21:15:00.000-04:00

Elebelly, Cranky Geek Daddy and I had a fun time at Eagles Flight Night last week! There were some fun surprises and of course, Elebelly's favorite part was the pretty cheerleaders and their pom-poms. Well, that was probably Daddy's favorite part too...my favorite part - the skydivers and of course seeing the new line-up of handsome Eagles players!

Eagles Flight Night Ticket Giveaway Winner!

2010-07-26T08:06:00.000-04:00

And the winner of our Eagles Flight Night ticket giveaway is....

Lora

Congratulations Lora! Hope you enjoy the event.

If you didn't win the tickets but still want to go and start the football season off with a bang, here's the details on how to get your tickets:

This event is for all ages and all types of Eagles fans offering:

Watch a full-contact practice
Player intros
Fireworks
Random prize giveaways
MORE!!!

WHEN: Thursday, August 5

Fun starts at 5:00 PM- Show starts at 7:00 PM

WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field

HOW: Tickets are available at www.PhiladelphiaEagles.com or through Ticketmaster

Charge-by-Phone, 800-745-3000. Prices start at $20 for adults and $10 for children, 12 and under, who purchase seats near the end zone. Tickets between the 40 yard line markers cost $30 per person. Those who purchase Club seats, at $35 a ticket, will have access to an air conditioned indoor Club area and the opportunity to meet Eagles Cheerleaders.

For Eagles Fans...Eagles Flight Night is Back!

2010-07-07T18:07:00.000-04:00

Okay Eagles fans, get ready...

Flight Night is back for it's second year and all proceeds will benefit the Eagles Youth Partnership.

If you love showing your pride for the Eagles and want to participate in this great event, keep reading...

Elebelly and I have a great giveaway at the end of this post!

Here are the details for the event:

The first chance to see the entire 2010 Philadelphia Eagles Team at Lincoln Financial Field is at the 2nd Annual Eagles Flight Night! on Thursday, August 5.

This event is for all ages and all types of Eagles fans offering:

Watch a full-contact practice
Player intros
Fireworks
Random prize giveaways
MORE!!!

WHEN: Thursday, August 5

Fun starts at 5:00 PM- Show starts at 7:00 PM

WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field

HOW: Tickets are available at www.PhiladelphiaEagles.com or through Ticketmaster

We are giving away a family 4-pack of tickets!!

If you'd like to attend with your family and get a head start on the Eagles season, leave a comment below. The winner will be selected by Random.org on July 25th.

All proceeds raised from Eagles Flight Night! will benefit Eagles Youth Partnership’s (EYP) year-round activities. Celebrating its 15^th year, EYP is the nonprofit wing of the Philadelphia Eagles that was created to improve opportunities and enhance the quality of life for youth throughout the Philadelphia region. EYP provides health and educational resources to more than 50,000 children annually through programs such as the Eagles Book Mobile and Eye Mobile. For more information on the Eagles Flight Night! and EYP, please visit www.EaglesYouthPartnership.org

Full disclosure -- in exchange for promoting this event here and via social media outlets, we were given tickets to this event.

Eco-friendly products for baby, tot and more.

2010-06-27T15:47:00.000-04:00

weeBgreen is an online boutique developed by me for Elebelly and other wee ones. It's basic mission is to promote buying locally and regionally and share products handmade by amazing craftpreneurs in the US.

MobiStories Digital Books Play Date

2010-06-18T14:09:00.000-04:00

On Monday, elebelly and I attended a fun play date at Classy Mommy's home. Colleen hosted the play date and MobiStories came by with their pc so all the kiddos could check out some really cool digital books. Take a look and see how fun...

Details about MobiStories:

MobiStories are great for long road trips...there are four puzzle books in the Transportation series. They are also multi-lingual (available in English and Spanish...and some offer Chinese as well). MobiStories will also soon be available in French. They have an exclusive language selector that allows the narration and text to be in any combination - kids can listen to the Spanish narration while reading the text in English; which makes MobiStories a unique way to introduce a second or third language!

Another tid-bit to share, MobiStories are developed both for mobile apps and the computer, so children can view either on your iPhone or on the pc (by viewing on the pc, kids can work on their computer/mouse skills). And once you purchase a digital book and download it, it's yours to view/read it anytime?

Full disclosure: MobiStories provided moms and children free digital book viewing/reading time in exchange for our participation and feedback. We were in no way paid for this post.

Aquafina Flavorsplash party at Morimoto

2010-05-29T16:21:00.005-04:00

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a fab get-together with fellow Philadelphia Social Media Moms and bloggers hosted by MomCentral and Aquafina Flavorsplash.

MomCentral hosted us at the amazing and unique restaurant, Morimoto. The appetizers were delicious, especially if you like sushi and we were provided with ample samplings of Aquafina Flavorsplash waters to taste. I love the atmosphere at Morimoto and enjoyed catching up with fellow moms in the know. I'm not a big bottled water drinker at all...but enjoyed tasting the flavors of Aquafina Flavorsplash - Grape, Wild Berry, Strawberry Kiwi, Raspberry, Lemon and Peach Mango.

If you haven't had the chance yet and you're in the Philadelphia area, check out Morimoto!

I wrote this post after attending an event sponsored by Aquafina FlavorSplash and Mom Central. I received FlavorSplash goodies and a gift card as a thank you for posting.

Great Eco Event - Greening your Community

2010-02-23T10:49:00.000-05:00

We shared this over at weeBgreen, but wanted to share here. boho magazine and Citibank are hosting a great event for the community all about living an earth-friendlier life. It's happening on Saturday, March 13th from 11:30am to 2:30pm and is a fab event for the whole family. Check it out to learn all about living a greener, more earth-friendly lifestyle!

we have a winner...illia designs giveaway

2010-02-15T13:24:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to comment and enter our giveaway!
The winner is Noreen.
Please email your mailing information to info at weeBgreen dot com.

Thanks again for stopping by!

Dress details:

Girls Short Sleeve Dress.
Blue designer fabric with Yummy Ice cream cones & sundaes!
Pink OR Cream Crochet flower pin at chest.
Flared "Pixie" Sleeves. Gathered sleeves available upon request.

.....SIZES.....
Available in ALL sizes: 6m to 3T
Larger sizes available upon request
(sizes 4-5 additional $5.25, sizes 6-8 additional $8.25)

Dress Lengths (shoulder to knee):
6mos. 15”
9mos. 15.5”
12mos. 17.5”
18mos. 18.5”
2T 20”
3T 22.5
4T 23”

illia...unique...modern...quality

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Bow-tique launch

2010-02-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

Minnie Mouse is the star of the show in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-tique when it comes to Disney DVD on February 9, 2010.

Elebelly and I had the chance to preview the dvd with four Minnie-themed stories including a never-before-seen episode. The dvd also comes with a cute Minnie magnet frame with magnetic bows...perfect for the fridge. Two of the episodes, ‘Minnie’s Pajama Party,’ and ‘Minnie’s Bee Story,’ include Disney’s Adventure Mode – an interactive game using the remote control with multiple play levels. I like it when a video gets interactive. It gets the kids involved and thinking...adds an educational element which is nice.

About the episodes:

It's the grand opening of Minnie's Bow-tique, a store jam-packed with every kind of bow and bowtie imaginable. The selections include: the "Glow-Bow", a bow that changes color with every mood; the "Grow-Bow", a bow that grows to tremendous size by just adding water; flying "Butterfly-Bows"; and a "Photo-Bow" that snaps instant pictures. Problems arise when Pete, embarrassed about buying a lady's bow for his favorite aunt, causes a few accidental mishaps in the new store.

However, super salesperson Minnie finds the perfect bow for Pete. The Bow-tique's grand opening is a success - and it all ends in a Big Bow Show with the Clubhouse gang modeling the latest fashions under the biggest bow of all, a colorful, sky-high Rain-Bow.

In a never-before-seen episode, Minnie’s Pajama Party Minnie and the girls set up a fun Pajama Party sleepover for the day – but it’s not as easy as it sounds, especially with the addition of Pete and Willie the Giant!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-tique is available for U.S. $19.99 (SRP), Canada

$24.99 (SRP) from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Available for public sale: February 9, 2009

Full disclosure: This post was sponsored by Click Communications and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry.

"Souper You Debut" Gift Pack giveaway

2010-02-04T12:02:00.002-05:00

My friend, Margie from Gunning It is hosting a fab giveaway for the "Souper You Debut" from Progresso Soups.

"...Progresso & MyBlogSpark are providing the winner with a gift pack that contains the mug, jump rope and two cans of Progresso Soup. To win this fab gift pack, share your favorite variety of Progresso Soups AND make sure to leave an email address so I can contact you!"

Head on over and enter to win.

An oh so sweet giveaway - illia designs dress

2010-02-01T20:12:00.004-05:00

Elebelly loves her sweets, and this dress is just too cute. Perfect for any little gal who has a sweet tooth.

We'll be giving one away randomly to one of our lucky readers. Just post a comment below and we'll select a winner on February 15th.
Good luck sweeties!

Dress details:
Girls Short Sleeve Dress.
Blue designer fabric with Yummy Ice cream cones & sundaes!
Pink OR Cream Crochet flower pin at chest.
Flared "Pixie" Sleeves. Gathered sleeves available upon request.

This Sweet Unique Dress is Comfy and Roomy with elastic stretch neckband to slip right over your little ones head.

Your little one can wear this transitional dress this year and also next year as a longer style blouse. It will grow with her!!

.....SIZES.....
Available in ALL sizes: 6m to 3T
Larger sizes available upon request
(sizes 4-5 additional $5.25, sizes 6-8 additional $8.25)

Dress Lengths (shoulder to knee):
6mos. 15”
9mos. 15.5”
12mos. 17.5”
18mos. 18.5”
2T 20”
3T 22.5
4T 23”

illia...unique...modern...quality

going green - giveaway of the week

2010-01-19T11:48:00.004-05:00

Our "green" blog is hosting a giveaway from now until February 1st.

An EcoSmart all natural pest control set is up for grabs. Hop on over and share with us what you did in 2009 to live earth friendlier!

2009-12-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

Check out just some of what we'll be including in our upcoming book
Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide: for a life filled with memories and simple pleasures.

And stay tuned for book tour deets, publish dates, and more! Fun stuff coming up for 2010!!

Fun with photos...

2009-12-10T12:32:00.002-05:00

Had to share the excitement! I love creating videos for people from their photos and coming up with the right phrases to drop in. Here's one I did for my brother in law...

Elebelly hits the road and attends a Cabbage Patch Adoption Party!

2009-12-03T09:28:00.005-05:00

(Full disclosure - this post was sponsored by the Golden Inn in Avalon, NJ, Jakks Pacific, The Party Planning Professor and Fairytale Entertainment NJ)

Recently Elebelly, cranky geek Daddy and I had the fabulous opportunity to head down to the New Jersey shore, Avalon specifically, and spend a relaxing weekend at the Golden Inn, an ocean front hotel right in Avalon near the center of Stone Harbor. If you know me, you know I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the beach and Elebelly has been hitting the beach since she was about 1 month old. So when the opportunity arose to attend a Cabbage Patch party on Sunday and spend the weekend at the beach we jumped!

Here's a little video of our fun at the Cabbage Patch party:

The hosts and location...
The Party Planning Professor herself threw an amazing Cabbage Patch adoption party for all the mommies and daughters invited. With the help of Jen from Fairytale Entertainment, Cabbage Patch dolls provided by Jakks Pacific and the Golden Inn providing food and accommodations the party and weekend was great. We got to meet the chef, decorate our own cupcakes and of course Elebelly adopted her first ever Cabbage Patch doll, Gina Cherrie (a name not to be forgotten)!

Curious George Christmas Giveaway UPDATE

2009-12-01T08:51:00.002-05:00

(full disclosure this post is sponsored by 360 PUBLIC RELATIONS LLC)

Elebelly and I wanted to share that Nancy is the winner of our "Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas" giveaway! Congrats Nancy...please email your address so we can mail it!
info at weebgreen dot com

Elebelly had the opportunity to share in the movie excitement with her neighborhood buddy, Benton, and they both liked it. Curious George to me is a classic. I grew up with that famed little monkey and his man in the yellow hat. It doesn't have all the hoopla and brand placement that many other movies and shows do. Curious George is just plain educational entertainment for the kids...and who doesn't love a cute little monkey!

Check your local listings for future air dates or grab your own copy!

Cruisin' Safety Town

2009-11-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

Curious George "A Very Merry Christmas" Giveaway

2009-11-20T17:14:00.002-05:00

(Full disclosure -- this giveaway is provided by 360publicrelations.com)

Hey all Curious George fans out there, we have a monkey of a giveaway for you! Elebelly and I were asked to share the exciting news that Curious George is going to be having "A Very Monkey Christmas" this year and you're invited! What is the giveaway??

We are giving away a copy of the Curious George "A Very Monkey Christmas" dvd to one lucky winner. Just post a comment below and we'll select one winner. We'll announce the winner on November 29th!

And don't fret if you don't win the giveaway, the air dates for the movie, fun games and printables can be found here.

Calista Grand Mini Makeovers & See Mom Run

2009-11-16T06:17:00.004-05:00

MommaNotes:

Just last week I the opportunity to attend a See Mom Run book tour event at Calista Grand salon and spa. The event was for Philadelphia area "mom bloggers" and was a packed room. And Beth Feldman, Author of See Mom Run and Peeing in Peace, founder of www.RoleMommy.com shared an excerpt from the book; one of her hilarious essays on motherhood. See Mom Run is laugh-out-loud funny and the contributors hold nothing back. I'm not yet finished with the book, but the essays I just read last night had me cringing and laughing at the same time. Moms truly are amazing! For other See Mom Run tour dates go here.

Author Beth Feldman singing about dreams of a life where everything was clean.

The sylists and make-up artist were a huge help in offering up quick and easy tips for us moms.

**The See Mom Run book tour is presented by Swiffer.

Yo Gabba Gabba Giveaway & Tour Dates

2009-10-31T10:18:00.003-04:00

Full disclosure - this post is sponsored by Michelle K. Sisco Public Relations, LLC.

We have another fun giveaway for you!
I'm excited about this one because in Elebelly's words herself the new Yo Gabba Gabba! dvd "the music is fun, and I like singing along". Mommy likes it because one of her fave music groups, The Roots, is in it singing a song about family and the messages in the show are positive and educational...even if the characters are a little odd. Elebelly doesn't watch much TV, but when she does, I try to find shoes/videos that are educational and positive. This one definitely is!

On with the giveaway!
We are giving away the Yo Gabba Gabba music CD "Music is Awesome!". The cd became available on CD and digitally October 20th but if you haven't had the chance to pick up your copy, here's your chance to get your own copy FREE!

To get your chance at the Music is Awesome cd, just post a comment below! We'll select the winner
November 5th.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live tour information:

saturday, november 14th @ 11am or 3pm -- los angeles -- the shrine expo hall
sunday, november 15th @ 11am or 3pm -- los angeles -- the shrine expo hall
saturday, november 28th @ 11am or 3pm -- dallas -- dr. pepper arena
saturday, december 5th @ 11am or 3pm -- chicago -- rosemont theatre

**all new york dates presently sold out, but you can check here to see if they add additional dates/times

Yo Gabba Gabba! on Nick Jr. Information:
Andy Samberg, The Roots and MGMT were among the celeb guests who appeared with the Yo Gabba Gabba! gang during a week of new episodes, which aired Monday, Oct. 12 – Friday, Oct. 16 on *Nick Jr (*formerly named NOGGIN). Additional guest stars appearing throughout the premiere week included hip-hop legend Biz Markie, teaching preschoolers how to beat box in the recurring “Biz’s Beat of the Day” segment, singer/illustrator/composer Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO) in the recurring “Mark’s Magic Pictures” drawing segment, skateboarder Ray Barbee and musical guests Reeve Oliver, Lady Tigra and Little Ones. Yo Gabba Gabba!, currently shooting its third season, is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. The series airs daily at 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nick Jr. These episodes will be replayed so you can still catch them if you missed them last week!

Good luck to all entrants, and we hope you get to check out Yo Gabba Gabba with your kiddos soon.

Disney On Ice - Philadelphia Giveaway - Winner...

2009-10-12T21:40:00.003-04:00

We've selected our winner for the Disney on Ice opening night giveaway!

The winner is Robin! Congratulations.

Thanks for playing along and enjoy the show! If you didn't win, remember there is a special promo code...check here for it.

Roslyn Day Fireworks...love living in burbs of Philly!

2009-10-07T15:06:00.001-04:00

Disney On Ice is soon to arrive in Philly...giveaway & coupon code!

2009-10-06T09:30:00.005-04:00

(Full disclosure, this post is brought to you by Feld Entertainment and Mom Central)

This year 'Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic'at the Wachovia Center!

With the help of Feld Entertainment and Mom Central we have the opportunity to give 1 reader a FREE 4-pack of tickets for opening night (10/14 at 7 pm).

To enter this giveaway, simply post a comment below (include your email). The contest will run now until Sunday, October 11th @ midnight, ET. The winner of this contest will pick up the tickets at the Wachovia Center 'will call' the night of the show. Valid ID is required to claim your tickets. If by chance you don't win the prize pack, there is a coupon code that will give you the opp to purchase a 4-pack of tickets for weekday shows for only $44 or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ComcastTix.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.

Philadelphia Show Dates:
Wednesday, October 14: 7:00pm
Thursday, October 15: 7:00pm
Friday, October 16: 10:30am, 7:00pm
Saturday, October 17: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, October 18: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

Some other Disney on Ice giveaways...in case you don't win ours:
ClassyMommy
Chester County Moms
Gunning It
Genesis Moments
Reviewsings
TotalMomHaircut

**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM” in the promotional box on ComcastTix.com. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Front Row, VIP Gold, or VIP seats. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges & handling fees will apply.

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure give away

2009-10-03T09:57:00.004-04:00

(Full disclosure - This post is sponsored by Shout! Factory & Hasbro.)

Hey there, Elebelly and Mommy here. We've had a super busy summer and finished it off with a vacation in the Outer Banks...we'll post our video later. Today Elebelly wanted to share her love of my little Pony with everyone and give away 1 copy of "Twinkle Wish Adventure".

Elebelly has 4 my little Pony dolls and loves to make them act out scenes from the Twinkle Wish movie or even other movies. She's been a fan since she was about 2 and in true "girly, girl" form plays with their hair, dances with them and pretends their Princess Fiona, or other movie characters.

About Twinkle Wish Adventure
The story follows Pinkie Pie and all her pony friends on a fun-filled adventure as they discover that friendship can make wishes come true. More fun ensues as the Winter Wishes festival arrives and Wishing Star grants each pony one wish. The DVD is packed with fun extras including:

an animated short "Elefun and Friends"
"Waiting for Winter Wishes Festival" prequel
6 sing-along songs
downloadable coloring sheets
and more!

My Little Pony "Twinkle Wish Adventure" will arrive on DVD to the public on October 13th.

BUT if you post a comment below including your kiddos fave my little pony character, Elebelly and I will select one lucky winner to send you a copy of "Twinkle Wish Adventure". Good luck...and remember wishes can come true!

Timmy the Turtle Turns Ten

2009-08-13T14:22:00.002-04:00

Elebelly loves helping Daddy feed Timmy the Turtle every evening when he gets home from work. It's their ritual. Timmy is Daddy's turtle.

However, ten years ago, when Timmy was the size of a quarter and Elebelly's Daddy and I had just started dating, he was my turtle.

Okay he's OUR turtle. I still think he's pretty neat and love watching him flip over his bridge and Sponge Bob figurine like he's practicing for the strong man competition!

Elebelly loves him...and when her day care friends came over to visit they loved him too. He's one of those cool animals to look at but with the size of his claws and his snappy (toothless) mouth I wouldn't put my fingers near him; ever!

Hence, he's now the hubby's pet. Well, when it comes to tank cleaning time. I had tried cleaning the tank and wore those yellow rubber cleaning gloves, but no more! Not since he bit the finger of one right off after I had taken them off. Uh uh that was my last attempt at cleaning the tank. I will stay safely behind the glass peering in at this water turtle we have as a pet, watching his fruitless attempts at escape.

Elebelly may one day graduate from helping feed the turtle to helping clean the tank...that is if he lives for another decade. But by then he may need his own pond!

A must listen...Matisyahu..."One Day"

2009-08-07T13:12:00.001-04:00

This song is the most moving, inspiritational I've heard in a long time. Matisyahu is my new favorite artist.

Philadelphia Green Spaces - SMITH Kids Play Place

2009-08-04T20:59:00.008-04:00

If you live in or near Philadelphia and are looking for great, FREE play spaces for your kids, SMITH Kids Play Place is a great option right in Fairmount Park. Eric and Kate graciously invited me and other area moms that blog to visit on Monday (typically they're closed to the public on Mondays). Although it is a little hard to find, at least for this directionally challenged mama, SMITH is a happy, hidden treasure in Fairmount Park just off of Kelly Drive.

Kelly Drive holds a special place in my heart because it's where my husband and I had some really great walks-n-talks when we first started dating. I loved walking up and down and seeing the rowing teams zoom up and down the Schuykill behind the boathouses. The sculptures there are pretty amazing too. So the drive to SMITH is full of pleasant scenery.

Anywho, SMITH is a large building and outdoor play area with soft play surfaces, a huge wooden slide, climbing apparatus, swings, and balance beams. They also have a tot lot outside (currently under construction, as is the entire exterior of the building). I was happy to see this Philadelphia architectural and historical treasure being carefully maintained and cleaned. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Inside on the main floor Elebelly enjoyed the play house with the kitchen and windows with closable shutters.

And downstairs the mini town with a working street light and various street signs are perfect for the kiddos driving the numerous trikes to select from...it's just so cool to watch them imagine driving around town or heading out to pick up some groceries. At one point Elebelly was saying, "I've got to go get some money and gas...I will be right back."

At SMITH, there are many wooden toys that reminded me of my days in kindergarten baking pies and snagging items from the fridge. The giant book with magnetic words so the kids can "write" their own story was too cute.

Lots of imaginative play can take place here and it's open to the public. I look forward to taking Elebelly and hopefully some Moxie Moms friends back in the future for years to come.

Wordless Wednesday - Our July 4th weekend

2009-07-29T08:56:00.000-04:00

Elebelly's buddy Benton

What happened to the girl he married?

2009-07-17T06:22:00.009-04:00

As a contributing writer for Philly Moms Blog, every now and then we get the opportunity to participate in their book club and this month we had the opportunity to read "What happened to the girl I married?" by Michael Miller.

Michael shares a story I am sure many married men and women can relate to; especially those that have children. It has to be more common than not that women who once worked full-time and now stay at home to raise their children full-time lose themselves over time. For women, it is so much easier to give, give, give leaving ourselves last on the list. It's how we're built. And if we make it a habit of doing this to ourselves, the people around us will just begin to consider it normal and they way we want things.

I am hard-pressed at times to remember exactly who I was before I became my husbands wife and my daughters mother. It seems like eons ago that I was on my own, caring only for me, myself and I. Who was that person before getting married at 25?? I still look the same with some additional poundage and gray hair creeping up on me. Just 5 years later I feel like I've let myself lose sight of myself a bit due to the demands a marriage and motherhood require. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about my life as it is (honestly I wholeheartedly believe our life is what we make it). And I don't think I've lost ALL of myself or sacrificed more than necessary for my family...I still spend time with my girl friends, exercise as regularly as I can (but not as much as I'd like), and have a business of my own that allows me an outlet for creativity and keeping my skills sharp. But it is who and what drives my decisions that have led me to feel like I've lost sight of myself. My decisions are mostly now based on:

"What is good for my daughter?"
"Would this be a good influence on my daughter?"
"Would this make my husband or daughter proud of me?"
"Would this benefit my family?"

Whatever happened to, "Is this good for me?", "Does this energize and motivate and inspire me?", "Is this what I want?"

At one point or another we hit the end of our rope or a fork in the road and it's our sign to make some decisions and decide whether or not to take a path. I think I may be there...the place where I matter most because if I don't take care of ME, I won't be able to take care of others. It's so easy to see that we need to nurture our own minds, bodies and souls to feel full, but so hard to do...especially when life gets in the way.

And I wish my husband was interested enough to want to read "What happened to the girl I married?". I don't think he gets the concept...and why I chose this book from our book club selections. Or maybe I'm not giving him enough credit and he gets the concept but has been so busy with his job and the stress of all the political junk that happens there that he just has no desire to come home and read a book that touches on the subject of how moms/wives can so easily lose themselves to all the demands of marriage and motherhood. Whatever the case may be, at some point I'm sure he'll oblige. He is a great husband and father; loves his daughter to pieces and always up for a hug. We've been together for over a decade and are truly best friends. I would just like to see him put himself in my shoes a little more often and see things from this vantage point. One day....

Full disclosure:
This book was provided by the Silicon Valley Moms Group for the July book club.

Margie's Monday Mommy Confession

2009-07-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

As you can see from my photos over at Gunning It, I have 2 children with extremely fair and sensitive skin so it is VERY important that I sunscreen them beyond the call of duty. I have to confess...there are times that I skip applying sunblock because I think, "oh it's later in the day and we won't be outside too long..." Well today I am vowing to no longer take this approach! In an effort to protect my kids as best I can, I have done a little research. I came across this article "How Safe and Effective Are Sunscreens?" so I thought I would share....the findings are a little scary. Here is an excerpt from the article listing the sunscreens NOT recommended:

Coppertone NutraShield, Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, SPF 30 Huggies Little Swimmers Sunscreen, Moisturizing Blue Melon Splash Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas: Complete Block Spray, SPF 26 CVS Sport Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30 ~ Margie

Great info Margie and thanks for the confession...I admit I've skipped sunscreen on my kiddo and myself too but I try to be diligent about it...especially on the beach. I'm surprised about the sunscreens NOT recommended...it pays to do your research.

Hey readers, do you have a sunscreen you recommend?
Are there kinds you'd never use?
Let us know!

Happy Friday - Awesome Avian Video

2009-07-10T11:27:00.001-04:00

I just had to share this...it's adorable!

Thankful Thursday - Why's and Little Adventures

2009-07-09T09:00:00.001-04:00

Last Friday Elebelly and I had the opportunity to see the 10! Show taping at the NBC 10 studios. It was something I thought would be fun for us to do together. And the tickets are free; all you have to do is fill out the form on their website.

Elebelly is into the "why's" now and asking questions about everything. So she asked why we were standing in line. Why we were sitting in chairs. Why there were cameras. Why we had to be quiet while they taped the show. Why we were clapping. Why, why, why, why why. I love how curious she is and how she is so persistent...I think it means she'll be a tough kid and not let anyone take advantage of her (or I hope). No matter how annoying the "why's" can be, I'll miss them when they're gone...life changes so quickly with kids. They quickly go from one thing to the next. So I'm just enjoying them and being in the moment as much as I possibly can.

I'm so proud to be her mommy and share in special little adventures like seeing the local TV morning show get taped. Oh, and we got to try goats milk ice cream and they gave everyone in the audience free tickets to see the Camden Riversharks. I love unexpected, happy surprises like that. Couldn't have asked for a better day with my Elebelly!

Giveaway Goin' On at Gunning It: Cheerios Spoonful of Stories

2009-07-09T06:52:00.005-04:00

My good friend and fellow "mommypreneur", Margie, is hosting a really cool giveaway this week.

Here's a bit about the giveaway:
Over the past seven years, Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories has given away more than 35 million children's books by distributing them free inside cereal boxes and has donated nearly $3 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to children from low-income families?

In addition to encouraging children to read, Cheerios is looking for anyone interested in writing children's books.

Now in its third year, the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest is a way to encourage previously unpublished, up-and-coming children's book authors and to continue to nurture a love of reading. Entries are being accepted March 16 through July 15, 2009 and will be judged on appropriate story and content for children ages 3-8, emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness, and read-aloud potential. More details on the contest can be found at www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com.

Cheerios also announces the winners of the second New Author Contest:
Lori Degman, of Vernon Hills, Ill., won the top prize for her story, "1 Zany Zoo." In addition to winning a $5,000 cash prize from Cheerios, Degman earned the opportunity to have her book reviewed by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Simon & Schuster has since offered Degman a book deal; her book is expected to be released in 2010, initially in paperback distributed inside Cheerios boxes, and later in hardcover sold in the market.

Heads up - the giveaway ends Sunday so hop on over to Gunning It for more.

Wordless Wednesday - summer fun

2009-07-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

Margie's Monday Mommy Confession

2009-06-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

How do I drink my coffee in peace?...I put cartoons on for Nick in my bedroom, stick Anna in the high chair with some breakfast, then wheel her into the family room while I enjoy my coffee with a DVR'd show from the night before....like The Hills (or this morning, John & Kate).

...And speaking of which, I just have to vent about Jon & Kate...I don't really watch Jon & Kate anymore but with all the hype these days I wanted to watch their premiere. First of all, if you do a reality show, being shot by the paparazzi comes with the territory right? And she's like, "why don't they take pics of another mom instead of me?" Um because you're a reality show honey!?

And poor Kate for having to plan the Bday party all by herself. Boo, hiss...pitty party. She kept mentioning how she had to do it herself because Jon needed a "weekend off." Welcome to the real world Kate. I am sure they have plenty of help behind the scenes?!

Oh and I am glad to see even the Gosselin boys do "potty talk." They always seem so perfect so it's good to see them acting like real boys. I heard them call each other, "poopy, wiener, butt head"...I love it! Sounds like my son when he gets together with his buddies. Ugh...

~Margie

Philadelphia Moms Blog Launch Party

2009-06-19T08:35:00.003-04:00

Last night I had the opportunity to attend the launch party for Philadelphia Moms Blog. Graco and PBS Sprout hosted the party and the location was great...45th floor of the Comcast Building.

The Philadelphia Moms Blog (a member of the Silicon Valley Moms Group) is, "...a compilation of moms with passion and moxie, enterprising and entrepreneurial moms, writer moms and corporate moms, stay-at-home moms, moms of one to moms of more, Philadelphia Moms Blog is a virtual melting pot of what makes our city the City of Brotherly Love. Or as we call it "the City of Motherly Love". And no, we're not all cheese steak & soft pretzel lovers, but we do love the complexity that is Philadelphia. Here we share our stories of life in Greater Philadelphia with the sometimes bi-polar-like weather, phanatic phans of our beloved Phillies and Eagles, occasionally battling traffic on the infamous 76 or battling the foot traffic in Center City or at the gargantuan King of Prussia Mall; all for the City of Motherly Love."

The launch party was a way for us to meet each other in person and connect in real life. We've read each others posts over the last several months, commented, watched some heated debates occur on some of the posts, but never had the opportunity to meet in person as a group yet. It was a fun event with gracious hosts Lindsay & Erin from Graco and Shannon & Anna Maria from PBS Sprout. Here's a quick video of the party curteousy of Sarah over at Genesis Moments:

Margie's Monday Mommy Confession

2009-06-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Ok...so my confession for today:
Sometimes I shut myself in the bathroom to use the phone when my son is having a tantrum.

We all have different opinions and styles as to how we parent our children. For me, I feel that when my son is having a hissy fit, he needs to get it all out completely. I don't want to negatively reinforce his tantrums by giving him attention...so I leave him alone, go into the bathroom, shut the door, and make phone call to get my mind off of him.*

Now I do not do this often I admit. Usually I tell Nick that he needs to go upstairs to his bedroom (shut the door) and get all the yuckies out up there. When he is done....he can come downstairs :-) This has really worked for us. Sometimes he comes down the stairs calling out to me, "Mommy - I am all done crying now." Ha-ha! Kids are just so darn cute aren't they?

*I do make sure the environment is safe when I shut the door, so that he doesn't harm himself during these crying fits.

~Margie

Thankful Thursday

2009-06-11T14:24:00.003-04:00

It's late at night and I couldn't sleep again...this week's been a little brutal. Too many thoughts running through my head. This book I'm reading is playing a part in my insomnia because I don't want to put it down and it's got me all jazzed up about growing my business and "thinking big".
So what am I thankful for this week?

I'm thankful that my husband has a steady, stable job that provides for our family and challenges him. I'm thankful that he is home every night after work and always wants a big hug from his little girl when he gets home. I am thankful that my daughter has a Daddy that loves her unconditionally and wants to play with her whenever he gets a chance. They love playing in the sand together at the beach. I'm thankful my husband never had the urge to enlist in the military and I'm thankful that there hasn't been a draft since Vietnam...and pray there will never be another again. I'm thankful my Dad made it home safe from being drafted during Vietnam. I'm thankful he had the opportunity to go through officer's training so he wasn't on the front lines. I'm thankful for my Dad's courage and commitment to his country and family. I'm thankful for the 22 years I had with my mom. I'm thankful for the times I've been told I look like or remind someone of my mom. I'm thankful for Elebelly's tantrums (seriously) because they help me realize she's a completely normal, healthy kid developing the way she should...and they make me envision my mom saying, "See I told you it isn't easy being a mom and you're getting a taste of your own medicine."

Most of all I'm thankful that God, fate, or whatever it was had it in the cards for me to be chosen as Elebelly's mommy. I was meant to have a little girl who's funny, passionate, compassionate and maybe a little bit like her Grandma Ellen too.

Teresa's Tuesday Tip

2009-06-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Like everyone else, we're trying to save money here at home and I've been thinking of simple, easy ways to do this. I don't have a lot of time to devote to couponing or anything like that. And I still don't get how you can get $100 worth of groceries for like $30...it's beyond me.

What I do get is that buying fresh produce at the local farmers market or even the small produce store around the corner can be economical and better for the family. We have a local farmer's market in our area (well more than one). I'll share some regional farmer's markets below. But what is so great about the farmer's market is that not only is some of it less expensive than what you'd find at the grocery but much of it is organic...and honestly it tastes much, much better.

So my Tuesday Tip - support your local farmers...buy their amazing, fresh produce instead of the stuff that's been on a truck or plain for who knows how long.

BONUS - Some great Philly Area farmer's markets:

Glenside Farmer's Market
Norristown Market
Skippack Farmer's Market
Anselma Farmer's and Artisans Market
Didn't see one near you...go here...Buy Local PA

Margie's Monday Mommy Confession

2009-06-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

Some mornings I just cannot seem to get myself moving. So instead of making a sandwich for Nick's lunch, I find random snacks and foods in the cabinets & fridge to suffice. You know...a bag of pretzels, yogurt, maybe some raisins, couple cookies.

~ Margie

Margie, I can totally relate. But hey, the yogurt, pretzels and raisins are good for the little ones. I would worry if you were throwing together a cupcake, candy, soda and chips.

Tuesday Tip - Recycling Cardboard boxes

2009-06-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

MommaNotes:
Okay, so I just ordered more stuff online. Specifically butterfly shelves for Elebelly, Socket-Lockits for weeBgreen, and a shelf for my everlasting quest to organize my office / sewing area.

So what to do with all of those cardboard boxes and pieces of styrofoam? Well for starters, I do recycle them by using them for current or future shipping needs to weeBgreen customers and shipping gifts. But I don't have the space to store all of them. Thankfully, our township does recycle all kinds of cardboard and paper. So even the krinkled paper on top of the items shipped is recyclable. Here's some other ideas:

Live near Chalfont? Recycle your cardboard here.
Build a Cardboard Play Kitchen or Washer/Dryer for a wee one.
In Pittsburgh? Try RecyclingIt.
Build a cardboard playhouse like this one!
And a staple source for any recycling need, check out Earth911.

Margie's Monday Mommy Confession

2009-06-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

MommaNotes -- Here's Margie's Monday Confession (one I tend to agree with):

Hmm...so my confession for today...well I actually never play kids songs for my kids in the car, home...anywhere. I really like my music (which you know if you follow my blog) and so I didn't want to get my kids in the habit of listening to their own CDs; therefore I just don't play any for them.

Are you familiar with those little kits you get in Kindermusik class? Yeah, well I maybe only played the CD once, if at all.

I do sing songs to them from time to time, I do allow the singing books (that counts right!?), so now they really do seem to love my music....so we're all happy ;-)

~ Margie

Thankful Thursday - I love you's

2009-05-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

MommaNotes:
I don't really know when she started saying it but Elebelly has a knack for saying "I love you" at random moments. I eat it up every time...how can you not? And she doesn't just say it to me or her Daddy. She'll say it to her G-Mom too. It'll come out in the car, "Mommy, I love you". Or in a store with a sigh, "Mommy, I love you". I love it! She's become such an affectionate, loving little girl and it's the best. Now, I do know for a fact that Elebelly will also say it when she wants something but more often than not it's just her way of being affectionate. I'm relishing all the "Mommy, I love you's" now because in about 10 years, it may turn into "Mommy, I hate you".

So thankful for the "I love you's" from my Elebelly!

Margie's Monday Mommy Confession

2009-05-26T09:48:00.002-04:00

A day late...but still worth sharing. This is a new regular post we'll have from Margie at Gunning It. Margie is a fellow mommy, Moxie Mom, and mommypreneur. On Margie's Monday Mommy Confessions, she will share mommy moments that we all go through now and then...it's life. All Mommy's have something to confess!

How do I drink my coffee in peace?...I put cartoons on for Nick in my bedroom, stick Anna in the high chair with some breakfast, then wheel her into the family room while I enjoy my coffee with a DVR'd show from the night before....like The Hills (or this morning, John & Kate).

...And speaking of which, I just have to vent about Jon & Kate...I don't really watch Jon & Kate anymore but with all the hype these days I wanted to watch their premiere. First of all, if you do a reality show, being shot by the paparazzi comes with the territory right? And she's like, "why don't they take pics of another mom instead of me?" Um because you're a reality show honey!?

And poor Kate for having to plan the Bday party all by herself. Boo, hiss...pitty party. She kept mentioning how she had to do it herself because Jon needed a "weekend off." Welcome to the real world Kate. I am sure they have plenty of help behind the scenes?!

Oh and I am glad to see even the Gosselin boys do "potty talk." They always seem so perfect so it's good to see them acting like real boys. I heard them call each other, "poopy, wiener, butt head"...I love it! Sounds like my son when he gets together with his buddies. Ugh...

Wordless Wednesday - Circus Fun

2009-05-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from our recent trip to the Circus in Philly:

Such a fun time!

Zingerrific time at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus

2009-05-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

This past Friday we had the opportunity to go to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus in Philadelphia! It was Elebelly's first time to the circus and my first in probably over 15 years if not more.

Elebelly, "Cranky Geek" Hubby and I met at the train station and headed on over to the Wachovia Center for some "Zing. Zang. Zoom." fun. It all started with a visit to the Animal Open House to say Hi to the elephants, tigers, horses and zebras. The Animal Open House starts 90 minutes before show time...but is worth it. We got to see the animals up close lounging and being groomed. Elebelly loved getting up close to the elephants and saying hi to the miniature ponies. Then we went on to the All Access Pre-Show (this is also open for anyone with a ticket and starts an hour before the show). The Orange County Chopper designed and built motorcycle was on display and Elebelly got to try on a clown costume.

The show was great and it was really cool to see Elebelly's eyes light up...she loved the puppy tricks and clowns. If you're at all up for seeing the circus before it leaves Philadelphia, visit http://ev15.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList? groupCode=FAM&linkID=global-wachovia or www.ComcastTix.com and enter the code "Mom" to get 4 tickets for $44. And the price per ticket after those 4 is $11 (for the bigger families out there or if you want to bring friends).

As a mommy blogger, I was recently invited to be a Family Activator through a mommy network called Mom Central. So this is a full disclosure...I am affiliated as a Feld Family Activator and from time to time will be blogging about experiences Elebelly and I have had at sponsored events or activities.

Barrettes, Bows & Headbands Oh My!

2009-05-18T19:27:00.004-04:00

From the mouth of a three year old...

"I want a barrette...I want a bow with my princess dress."
No matter what day it is or how cold it is outside, Elebelly wants to wear a dress. She's also become really into her headbands and barrettes. So I stock up when I can because any mother to a little girl knows they can easily get lost...or stuck on the rocking horses hair.

I've gotten headbands and barrettes from places like Target and the grocery store hair care aisle. But I'm seeing something from the cheapo barrettes bought at Target...they, without fail, every time slip out of Elebelly's fine hair. So it's become pointless to put them in her hair. And with the grocery store bought headbands, Elebelly's been telling her Daddy and I that "the prickly things hurt my head". So those little teeth that make the headband stay aren't the best for a tot's head.

So what's a mom of a gally-gal to do? Get Chesapeake Ribbons barrettes and headbands. And no, I'm not an affiliate or anything. I don't make any money by endorsing Chesapeake Ribbons. I'm just one of their huge fans (and a friend of the owner). But honestly even if I didn't know Margie and had just purchased her products, I would be a raving fan! Seriously! Just check out how cute they are!

Elena has both this Classic barrette set and the pink bow which is great for getting her hair out of her face. And these barrettes don't slip...they are made with super strong clips that are great for fine hair.

Take it from this momma of a total gally-gal...Chesapeake Ribbons work and Elebelly agrees! They are truly a "wee tested. mommy approved." product!

Thankful Thursday - recycling our sneaks...

2009-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

(This is an original weeBgreen post...)

We're cleaning out a bit here and have some shoes we need to get rid of. Rather than toss em in the trash where they'll likely end up in some heap, we'd like to take the better route and donate or recycle them. The plan is to donate the ones that seem decent enough to do so. We have a great Thrift store nearby where we typically donate all of our used clothing items.

But in my search for recycling options for sneakers I found Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program. It works this way...

You take your old sneaks to a Reuse-A-Shoe center (looks like they have several in the US).
They accept any brand of sneaker but not dress shoes. And make sure they're not riddled with dirt or mud.

Locations in the Philly area include:

Other options for getting rid of old shoes:

If you have other sources for recycling shoes, please let us know. We'd love to share them and get the word out!

Thankful Thursday -- Elebelly's Moving on to 3

2009-05-07T20:54:00.005-04:00

MommaNotes: Wow, we've been uber busy here in Elebelly land. With all the things to do for business and our weeBgreen tasks, as well as getting ready for a long weekend away, swim class, and more it's been hectic to say the least.

I'm sitting here thinking about how tomorrow is the 5 year wedding anniversary for "cranky geek" husband and I...and how Elebelly will be 3 on the 9th. It is sometimes amazing to me that that much time has gone by. At times it feels like I've been married forever (in part because I've known my husband for over a decade now) and at other times it feels like just yesterday we were skipping our college classes to eat lunch together.

And the fact that my baby is no baby anymore and soon 3, just boggles my mind. She's become such a little lady, all into the sparkles and pink and princesses...and all own her own.

How can there be so much personality, passion and spunk wrapped up in a 3 foot package?

It just amazes me, makes me smile and makes me thank God every day for her. I'm not saying parenting a 3 year old going on 13 is easy...oh not in the least. But the reward of seeing her grow, watching her make friends with my friends' kids, seeing how sweet she is with newborn babies, how she "helps" me fold laundry, listening to her sing and tell stories and her giggles and cuddles far outweighs the toughness of parenting a little girl. I just feel so thankful to have had these 3 years with Elebelly and can't wait to keep watching her grow. "

Cranky geek" hubby and I are so blessed to have her in our lives and be able to take time away to celebrate her life and what she means to us this weekend.

Wordless Wednesday - Elebelly the Butterfly

2009-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday - Elmwood Park Zoo

2009-04-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Growing Green: Vegetable Garden part II

2009-04-20T16:27:00.004-04:00

It's been such a chilly spring that I feel like we're behind on our garden plans...but you can't plant until the ground is warm and ready.

So far we've just added organic garden "food" to the dirt, sloped the garden so rain water won't overload the garden and added river rock so the water wouldn't cause a muddy mess. We've also planted snow peas, lettuce, eggplant, summer squash and marigolds from seed. I'm hoping it wasn't too early for the eggplant and squash.

We're already seeing some greenery sprout up from our pea plants, and lettuce! Pictures will come in the next week or so. Elebelly loves checking out the garden with me, but I won't let her over the fence...sounds harsh but she's known for picking everything out of the ground. And while it would help with weeding, I think she might think my edible veggies are weeds too.

Next up...early May planting plans. What's on our list, etc. What are you planting in your veggie garden this year?

It's "Zing. Zang. Zoom." time! (we have a winner)!

2009-04-18T15:38:00.005-04:00

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is coming to town at the Wachovia Spectrum in May! If you ever went to the circus when you were young, you know it's a fun, out of this world event where imagination runs wild and kids (and parents) can have a great time. Elebelly, her Daddy and I plan to go to one of the Philadelphia area show times listed here:

5/13 @ 7pm
5/14 @ 7pm
5/15 @ 10:30am or 7pm
5/16 @ 11am, 3pm or 7pm
5/17 @ 1pm or 5pm
5/20 @ 7pm
5/21 @ 10:30am or 7pm
5/22 @ 10:30am or 7pm
5/23 @ 11am, 3pm or 7pm
5/24 @ 1pm or 5pm
5/25 @ 1pm

I'm thrilled that the circus will be here in Philadelphia soon because even though Elebelly's just 3, it will be another great family first and she'll love seeing the magic happen! I'm also one excited mommy blogger to have been asked by a mommy network to help spread the word about the circus coming to town and give one lucky reader a 4-pack of tickets to the show!

So if you'd love to experience the circus for the first time or make new memories with your little ones, please just leave us a comment here by Friday, May 1st and we'll randomly select a winner. Oh and if you don't win, no worries because you can still get 4 tickets for $44 by hopping on over to www.ComcastTix.com and entering coupon code "MOM" in the promotion box.**

Good luck!

**Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased for $11/each. Not valid on VIP Gold, VIP, or Circus Celebrity seats or combinable with other offers. Other handling fees and service charges may apply.

Thankful Thursday -- Making Memories with Elebelly

2009-04-16T16:36:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend we had the great opportunity to take Elebelly to see Sesame Street Live thanks to a giveaway at my fellow mommy bloggin' friend, Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife! Thanks Jo-Lynne for selecting us to win the tickets.

I can't say how happy I am that we braved the cold rain to head down to the Bob Carpenter Center at University of Delaware to go see Sesame Street Live. I think seeing Elmo and friends live and so big was really exciting for Elebelly; this was her first show other than a small local theater play.

Our seats were great and the Bob Carpenter Center is a smaller venue so it looked like all seats were good. It was so cool to see Elebelly's face light up at the sparkling stage set and she sang along with the songs she recognized.

Sesame Street Live is a great show; the performers were in synch and had great energy. I'm looking forward to sharing more fun events like this with Elebelly over the summer. Next up, I think it's the circus!

Vegetable Garden - Prep

2009-04-10T09:45:00.001-04:00

MommaNotes:

In the last few weeks we've been working hard at getting our vegetable garden plot all set up and ready for seeds. I love this time of year because it means more time spent outside in the fresh air. And I love working in the dirt and seeing what grows!

Elebelly helped rake and grade the garden dirt so that it would have a slight slope for the rain water to drain off. We dug a little ditch around the whole garden and filled it with river rock so the rain water would run off into that and not create too much mud or mess.

Then we took some chicken wire (less costly than the bendable garden fence) and formed it around our garden to keep bunnies and other critters out. It's not 100% fool proof but should work. We staked it about every 3 feet so that it was sturdy and followed the curvy shape of our garden this year. We placed the garden right off our patio at the sunny side of the house so it's pretty convenient too.

Up next...planting seeds and staggering the planting.

Vaseline and Lotion

2009-04-06T16:44:00.005-04:00

MommaNotes:

Okay, so I knew the time would come when I'd have to clear Elebelly's room of everything that could be smeared or wiped on the walls. I thought we were golden and had the extra bottles of baby lotion hidden away well. Alas, that was not the case. Super sleuth Elebelly managed to find them; not once but twice.

Oh, and nap time has turned into "I was just trying to wash my rocking horsies hair" or "I wanted to read all my books" time. I should have known it was too quiet in there but just figured my little angel was fast asleep and enjoying her daily nap.

Much to my surprise I walked in the other day to a slimy mess on the mirror, changing table, toy chest, and dresser knobs. And yes, there was no hiding it either, Elebelly had the proof slathered quite well on her hands. An entire jar of Vaseline gone...and let me tell you Vaseline is NOT easy to clean off of furniture and walls...everything was slimy. But I chalked it up to being a typical preschooler. So I cleaned up the mess after being on the verge of tears...because I HATE cleaning. So once the Vaseline was cleaned up, I then took it out of the room and thought, okay now we're good...nothing to destruct or slather the walls with anymore.

Episode #2. Saturday, my husband walks in to wake Elebelly up. All I hear is, "Teresa get up here!" I walk into a mess. Another slimy, icky mess...ugh! This time it was the body butter I forgot was under her crib in a box. For some reason, I never thought Elebelly would start exploring under her bed. Well, now I know better. So I had another slimy but fragrant mess to clean off the walls, dresser and keyboard this time. At least the gently scented body butter helped make Elebelly's room smell good!

Get ready...Where the Wild Things Are is coming!

2009-04-04T01:58:00.002-04:00

Can't wait to see this movie as I always loved the book growing up. It's going to be a hit!

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World Autism Awareness Day - Walk with Wubbzy

2009-04-02T15:22:00.000-04:00

Cast of Characters

2009-03-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

MommaNotes:

Elebelly's birthday is fast approaching and I'm still figuring out what to do. I'm pretty sure it's going to just be a family day at Story Book Land or Sesame Place, but I found a local "mompreneur" who does character parties too and am really tempted. I like supporting other mom-owned businesses.

So I found out from the owner, Lisa Cole, that she not only has her employees dress up in the kids' fave character, but she uses FDA approved face paint and bio-degradable balloons. Who knew balloons could be bio-degradable? It would be pretty fun to share with Elebelly meeting Dora the Explorer in person. And for moms with older kids, Lisa Cole offers jewelry making parties, a mobile recording studio party (where your kids can pretend they're the next Hannah Montana or Jonas Brothers). I'm pretty sure she'll even have the character stop by school on your child's birthday, if the administration okays it, to say hi! I just think it's so neat that our kids have the opportunity to meet their fave characters in person...I guess we did too when we were little but I only remember that happening at Disney World. So I'm still here sitting on the fence...I think 3 might be a bit too young, but maybe next year...4 is a good, fun age to have a character party right?

Thankful Thursday: Big Honkin Consignment Sales

2009-03-26T07:31:00.000-04:00

MommaNotes:

Thinking back about what I'm thankful for recently, I can think of numerous things. I love pondering what I'm thankful for and have gratitude for because it just makes me feel good. And isn't that what we really want out of life...to feel good in our own skin, with our surroundings and about the choices we make?

Well today, I am thankful for those big honkin consignment sales, like Cozy Tots, where you can load up on gently used clothes, toys, books and furniture for your tot. Sure, it's a thankfulness about "stuff" but at the same time a thankfulness about recycling someone else's no longer needed "stuff" into my daughter's needed spring/summer clothing. And for much, much less than if I were to buy these items new at a chain store. I just love the fact that you can get almost an entire season worth of clothing for less than $100. And boy do I wish I'd known about these sales when I was looking for baby furniture...could have saved a ton of cash.

I know the time will come when Elebelly will think it's totally uncool to wear used or handed down clothing. I know the time will come when she'll say, "Mom, why can't I have designer this or designer that. All my friends do." And sure, at times I'll probably cave and let her have some of the new, designer/brand things she wants...especially if she uses her allowance or babysitting money earned for it. But for the most part, I think I owe it to her to do my best at educating her that all those brand names and all that designer "stuff" is not what's important. Sure it can make you look good and feel "cool" but that's temporary and fleeting.

For now, while she's still young enough, I'll keep dressing her in the cute, well-kept, gently used clothes I've been finding at these awesome consignment sales and stores. I'm thankful to have found them!

Ready to partay!?

2009-03-25T22:02:00.005-04:00

5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate blog party is almost over! It started March 20th and runs til March 27th. Click here to check out what it's all about.

A bit about me...I'm a "mommypreneur" of 1 (so far) and as you can see from my blog name I like to call my little gal Elebelly. I love being a mom and having a little girl...we just have so much fun together. Motherhood is awesome isn't it!? I live in suburban Philadelphia with my "cranky geek" husband and high-strung chihuahua. I'm the new area manager for East Montgomery County / Philly Moxie Moms, a pretty cool network of moms all about fun, friends and fitness. I also work from home providing other mompreneurs and fitpreneurs rescue from content mishaps and public relations confusion, am a PhillyMomBlogger AND am launching an online boutique all about earth friendlier products for wee ones.

And as part of our launch celebration, we're hosting a giveaway for the Ultimate Blog Party! 2 gift certificates for products in our online boutique. Oh, and check out my good friend Margie's, Chesapeake Ribbons, too...they're hosting a giveaway as well.

Now's the part where I get to list my fave's that I'd like to win!! My top 3 picks are:

89 — $100 gift card to HomeGoods -- mommy needs some furnishings
43 — $25 gift certificate to eco Store USA
52 – $25 gift certificate to Ju Ju Beane Boutique

If these have already been picked I would love these too -- 125, 98, 101, 106, 91 or anything related to mom's, toddlers/preschoolers, parenting. Elebelly's a preschooler and loves puzzles, dancing and princesses!

Thankful Thursday: Spring is almost here!

2009-03-19T20:49:00.004-04:00

In less than 24 hours it will be spring, officially. Saturday will be the first full day of spring and I cannot wait for the warmer weather, fun times outside playing on the swings or in the garden. Flowers blooming and birds chirping...sampling our treats in our homemade bird feeder. I just love spring!!!!

I am thankful for the 1 "big" snow we got this winter and the time Elebelly and I had to play in the snow making a mini snowman and snow angels. I like winter too and hope next year to have the opportunity to take a snow boarding lesson with my little gal. I like snuggling up on the couch with a good cup of tea and a movie. I love seeing the look on Elebelly's face when she looks out the window and sees snow on the ground. BUT,

Spring is still my favorite season. I am thankful to live in an area where we do get to experience the seasons no matter how rough the winter can be. It gives us the opportunity to experience new things every few months...and wear a new wardrobe as often. Thankfully spring is less than I day away!!!

In Honor of upcoming St Patty's day - Feeling Lucky

2009-03-13T22:26:00.001-04:00

wee steps to an earth friendlier life & the Philadelphia Go Green Expo

2009-03-12T09:20:00.007-04:00

Since I stepped into motherhood in May 2006, my interest in the environment and making it a better place for my child and her future children has grown.

I want to instill good values and an appreciation for our Earth in my daughter. We only have one body, one Earth and I really think it's important to notice the connection...if we care for our Earth, it will treat us well and we'll be able to better care for ourselves. Life is very cyclical and we need to value and appreciate the environment now, so our kids and grandkids have the same opportunity.

I'm not trying to be preachy or say that I'm 100% "green mother". I admit I am just a normal, suburban mom who wants to do what's right. We have a gas guzzling truck, but we're holding onto it until it can't go any further. We use it for all it's worth -- helping friends and family move, camping trips, hauling the free township mulch that's made from our fall yard waste. I do work from my home office, which helps cut down on unnecessary commutes and gas usage. My husband takes the train to work instead of commuting. I dream of having solar panels on the sunny side of my roof, and a thermal heating system. Those will have to wait...but for now we're taking baby steps.

And one of those is going to be this Sunday when Elebelly and I hop the train to the Philadelphia Go Green Expo. I'm excited for this event because not only will we have the opportunity to see the interactive Eco-Man Musical Performance and a kids yoga demonstration, but we'll also get to learn about new earth friendly products, ways to do our part and how Elebelly and I can work together to live a little greener. There are a ton of speakers and exhibitor's listed for this weekend long event. The Philadelphia Go Green Expo runs from Friday to Sunday, March 13-15. For more info go here.

Wordless Wednesday - Precious Moments

2009-03-11T08:29:00.001-04:00

Moments like this don't last forever...so I'm cherishing this photo taken at my sister's wedding on Maryland's eastern shore.

Shameless promotion for Mommy: Support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

2009-03-09T08:25:00.000-04:00

MommaNotes:

Okay, so today is the day I shamelessly self promote...haven't really ever done it to date (as far as I can remember). But I'd really like to gain some exposure for my virtual PREditorial business. It's something I'm passionate about and as a mother, I think being a mompreneur not only helps me balance my work/family life (well as much as possible) but also as Elebelly grows, she'll see that women can have a career, own their time, follow their passions and dreams and have a family. I started this business so that I could be home with Elebelly, watch her do all those firsts as a baby and experience new things with her. I love being a mother, but I also love having a passion for helping other moms in business. I love having the opportunity to share my expertise and talents with like-minded people. Which is why I entered Innovate Services in the StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition.

It's a long shot but if you can, please support us in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition. And I promise, I won't be "shamelessly self-promoting" much...that's not what this blog is about. It's about keeping track of Elebelly's growth and my growth as a mom...and sharing tips/tricks on parenting as I go.

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Fun Friday - Oasis Family Fun Center

2009-03-06T18:00:00.000-05:00

Notes from Elebelly:

Mommy's friend, Ms. Margie, over at Things To Do In the Philly 'Burbs posted a great "rainy day" fun spot, Oasis Family Fun Center. I've never been there but I'm really hoping to go soon. I love to weave in and out of the slides and climb through the mazes...just have a bit of a fear of heights maybe. And mommy says these types of places are great for expending some of that energy before nap time. Check out Ms. Margie's tip on best days to go to save $.