Wordless Wednesday
Happy New Year!
Swingset Mamas DVD Give Away
The award winning Swingset Mamas are on point. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their DVD Swing, Dance and Sing. Lizzie Swan and Marlowe Bechmann are the Swingset Mamas. Both are accomplished musicians who met on a beach in New York. In 1999, both became mothers. Although living in different states they wrote music to sooth their newborns. They shared their music and from there The Swingset Mamas came to life. Lizzie sent me two DVDs, one to review and one to give away to one of our readers. Here's my take:
There DVD is diverse, entertaining and colorful. I believe it is age appropriate for children 12 months to preschool. I tested that theory with my 15 month old grandson. Each morning he eats his breakfast watching the Cartoon Network. I decided to introduce him to The Swingset Mamas. Children are dancing throughout the DVD, the props are fun, and the Swingset Mamas bring colorful and diverse clothing to the set. My grandson, Xavier, enjoys music and loves to dance. He was mesmerized by the DVD. He watched the entire show, which consists of 15 songs.
I found the songs educational as well as entertaining. I particularly liked the Sunscreen Dance, Buckle Up, and Time To Clean Up. They encouraged children to put on sunscreen, their seat belt, and cleaning up their room. These songs are a clever and creative way to educate your child. I also liked Colors of the Rainbow. This song taught children about diversity, and that we are the colors of the rainbow. Kelley Gemelli was a hit with me too. Kelley Gemelli is a dog who has rolled in peanut butter and jelly and he's smelly. The children give Kelley Gemelli a bath. This song taught the responsibility of owning a dog and keeping him clean. Two other songs come to mind as well, Books and Dressed. These songs encouraged reading and dressing yourself.
Would I purchase this DVD for my child? Yes, I would and I highly recommend that you purchase one too. These ladies are on to something. Any tool that educates and is fun is alright with me. The DVD is getting great reviews on the blogosphere.
We have a copy of this wonderful DVD and a bonus CD for one of our readers. Here's how you can win: check out the Bugs and Swingset Mamas Compilation videos on Youtube and leave us a comment. These videos will give you the flavor of the Swingset Mamas or visit the Swingset Mamas.
Extra entries:
1 - Add one of our buttons to your sidebar
1 - Follow our blog (Left sidebar)
1 - Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this give away (Right Sidebar)
2 - Blog about this give away and link back to this post
This give away is open to US and Canada Residents 18+ only. We will randomly select a winner from the comments. Give Away ends January 31, 2009. Good Luck!
Famous Quotes
It's Sunday, which means I start the day with a few quotes for Quotable Sunday. Since this is the last Sunday in 2008, I thought I would list a few of my favorite success quotes. Great way to start off 2009:
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt
*I love this quote. Not only is it a great quote for success, but one for your self esteem as well. People aren't always supportive when you're striving to be successful, and at times they will try to wound your self-esteem or ruin your plan. Their attempts will be in vain as long as you don't buy into it.
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door - Milton Berle
*You hold the key to your sucess.
I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took an excuse - Florence Nighingale
*Don't make or accept any excuses while attempting to reach your goals in 2009.
Success is failure with the dirt brushed off - Mamie McCullough
*Too many times we give up if we don't see our goal immediately. We must learn patience and the fact that success doesn't happen overnight. At least not for most of us. If you fail, brush yourself off, take a different route and try again.
I hope that you find my quotes useful in 2009. Leave a comment and let us know which quote is your favorite. Be sure to visit A Daily Dose of Toni to check out more quotes from Quotable Sunday.
Care Packages For Troops
Operation Sugar Kisses will be launched January 2009. Each month Giggles & Sugar Kisses will send a Sugar Kiss (care package) to a soldier. They miss home and the modern conveniences that we take for granted, so we've decided to help brighten their day.
Sugar Kisses needs monthly donations and we would like our readers to become involved. Please place our Operations Sugar Kisses button (above) on your blog and let family, friends, your church and anyone who will support our initiative know about our program. We need donations as well as the name and address of a soldier who would appreciate a Sugar Kiss. The name and address of the soldier can be sent to rhonda@gigglesnsugarkisses.com. We will build a list with the soldier's name and post of duty. Each month we will randomly select who we will receive a Sugar Kiss.
Here's a list of what our soldiers need:
- hard candy
- homemade cookies
- chips/pretzels/cheese curls (snacks)
- envelopes & writing paper
- pens
- deodorant
- tooth brushes
- tooth paste
- foot powder
- lotion
- sun screen
- chap stick
- batteries (AA, AAA & D)
- gum/mints
- sports and/or automotive magazines less than 2 months old
- disposal razors
- white socks
- cheese & peanut butter crackers
- ramen/cup o noodles
- shampoo
- conditioner
- hair brushes & combs
- unscented baby wipes
- toilet paper on rolls
- packets of Kleenex
- shower shoes
- cans or packages of nuts
- facial moisturizer
- unscented lotions
- hand sanitizer
- paper back books.
Donations may be sent to:
Giggles & Sugar Kisses
58 Aldrin Lane
Martinsburg, WV 25403
Thank you for supporting for this worthy endeavor.
Famous Quotes
Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni started Quotable Sunday. I enjoyed reading her quotes on Twitter, so I decided to participate in her Quotable Sunday by listing a few of my favorite leadership quotes.
I start each day by reading a leadership quote from my Franklin Planner and a proverb from my Women's Bible. Here are a few of my favorite leadership quotes. They will give you a glimpse of who I am and what I believe.
I hope you enjoy them, but most importantly I hope you will strengthen your leadership ability when you read and think about them:
Anne Richards:
I've always said that in politics, your enemies can't hurt you, but your friends will kill you.
* I find this to be true not only in politics, but in life. You know where your enemies are coming from, it's your friends that you need to choose wisely. One thing that I have learned is they will stick a knife in you faster than your enemy.
Helen Keller:
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched ... but are felt in the heart.
*I have this quote on my bathroom wall along with the Ten Commandments and the Serenity Prayer. When I am public speaking, I start my speeches with this quote. Although I have the ability to see (sometimes) when my heart is touched, it makes thing a little clearer.
Mohandas K. Gandhi
I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.
*This is a lesson that I have learned since I became a manager 6 years ago. All the authority and power in the world doesn't matter if you have no interpersonal skills.
I hope that you have enjoyed my quotes for the day. Please leave a comment on which is your favorite and why.
In Memory of Caylee Anthony
I'm sure everyone has heard Caylee Marie Anthony has been declared dead. I've been following this story on CNN for the past few months and I must say that it has truly touched me. I can't imagine how Caylee's grandparents are feeling at this time. Making it through this tragedy will be an enormous task. The fact that their daughter, Caylee's mom, is being held for her murder is a double blow.
I look at this little girl, and I have asked over and over how anyone could harm such a precious child. Any child for that matter. When I see pictures of this beautiful little girl my heart breaks. I squeeze Xavier, my grandson, so much more these days.
I know that in this country people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, but if Casey Anthony did murder this beautiful little girl, her own daughter, I wonder what would make her loose all sense of right or wrong. Motherhood is so sacred. I've thought about my own daughter and my grandson. I wonder what I would do or how I would feel if I received a phone call and someone told me that my daughter was being held for killing her son. I just can't get that far in my thinking. I could never fathom that someone I gave birth to could take her own child's life.
My thoughts and prayers are with this family this holiday season. I'm so looking forward to seeing my grandson Christmas morning. I feel so bad that they will never see Caylee Marie again. From one grandparent to another, I pray that they be given the strength, insight and endurance they will need to move forward. Would love to hear your thoughts on this child murder.
What's Your Favorite Holiday Cookie?
There's a whole lot of baking going on. Christmas cookies are being baked across America. We're looking to taste yummy cookies in the blogosphere, so we want you to tell us your favorite cookie. My favorite holiday cookie is the Peanut Butter and Hershey Kiss cookie. So yummy! I've used this recipe for years and it's a favorite of kids young and old. I love serving them warm with a glass of milk to the kids. Their eyes light up and little fingers and faces are covered with yummy chocolate. We hope you enjoy it too. Leave us a comment and share your favorite holiday cookie.
Peanut Butter Cookies
- 1/2 c. butter
- 1/2 c. peanut butter (creamy)
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/4 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Holiday Decorations
What holiday decorations do you use each year? We decorate the house with nutcrackers each year. I love bringing these little guys out. I have them in a variety of sizes from extra large to miniatures. If there's an empty space, I'll place a nutcracker in it. I loved watching my daughter look at them when she was younger. My grandson is now fascinated by them.
The history of the nutcracker goes back 300 years, but they have only been popular in the United States for the past 50 years. According to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes. They were a symbol of good luck and protection for your home. They were also a part of the social setting, they acted as a conversation piece. My guests find them to be a great conversation piece to this day, and they look forward to seeing what I've added each year.
The nutcracker is also the basis for Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The Nutcracker Suite is now a traditional ballet during the holiday season. My daughter danced ballet for 12 years, so watching the Nutcracker during the holidays has become a tradition as well.
Leave us a comment telling us what decorations you use each year.
Packages for our Troops Needed
Giggles & Sugar Kisses will be shipping packages to our troops in Iraq from 12/16 /08 through 1/1/09. They've sent a list of items they would like to have and we're looking for donations.
Their list includes hard candy, homemade cookies, chips, envelopes & writing paper, pens, deodorant, tooth brushes, tooth paste, food powder, lotion, sun screen, chap stick, batteries (AA, AAA & D), gum, sports and/or automotive magazines less than 2 months old, disposal razors, white socks, cheese & peanut butter crackers, ramen/cup o noodles.
For the ladies, sanity products, magazines less than 2 months old, shampoo, conditioner, hair brushes & combs, unscented baby wipes, toilet paper on rolls, packets of Kleenex, shower shoes, cans or packages of nuts, facial moisturizer, unscented lotions, hand sanitizer, and paper back books.
Homemade cards from your child or children would be a nice surprise for them. If you're interested in participating please send your goods to:
Giggles & Sugar Kisses
58 Aldrin Lane
Martinsburg, WV 25403
Lets wish our troops a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year from the Giggles & Sugar Kisses Family. Leave us a comment on what you're doing to help someone this holiday season.
First Picture Book Give Away
Kids love books and we've found some great ones. Nancy Murphy owner of Blooming Babies carries a diverse selection of first picture books in her boutique. Her selection includes everything from picture books of clothing, the body, dinosaurs, trucks to animals. They are sturdy, hard cover, and fun to look at. My grandson loved the animal book. He loves to point at the pictures and have Gran tell him the animal and make the animal sound. What a fun and educational way to spend time with your child. These books get 3 snaps, a booty shake and go in Grandma's bag of fabulicious finds.
We were impressed with the quality of the books as well as the price. Books of this caliber are quite expensive if purchased from your local book store. Blooming Babies First Picture Books start at $11.99 and make great birthday, new baby, or Christmas gifts. The books are a generous size and the pictures are crisp. Your children will have them for years to come.
Blooming Babies also offers a Children's Guide. Here you will find helpful books on nutrition, exercise and cooking all geared toward children. I love the Recipe Guide for children. This is a great site to visit on cold, snowy days when the children are stuck inside. You will find recipes for pizza, smoothies, and snacks. Blooming Babies has it it all.
Giggles & Sugar Kisses is adamant about teaching our children to read and write and good eating habits. We firmly believe that education is the key to success and it starts at home. Blooming Babies believes education is a must as well and we're teaming up to offer our readers an opportunity to win the First Picture Animal Book shown.
You could be a winner. Here's how: visit Blooming Babies First Picture Book section or Children's Guide and leave us a comment on these great products. We will randomly select a winner from the comments. Please leave a valid email address. Posts with invalid addresses will be disqualified. Give Away is open to US Residents 18+ only. If you're a blog subscriber, you may enter twice. Give Away ends January 5, 2009. Good luck.
Children's Book Give Away
Giggles & Sugar Kisses was given the opportunity to review several groups of books by Kumon Publishing Company. Kumon focuses on basic learning skills for childen aged 2 through 6. They cover everything from the alphabet, reading, counting, tracing, basic addition and subtraction to scissor skills. Kumon's workbooks are unique. They use a step by step approach, so children can master one skill before moving to another. Their learning system was developed in Japan by Toru Kumon 50 years ago. Mr. Kumon wanted his son to do better in school, so he developed workbooks to help his son. By the sixth grade, his son could do calculus. His techniques have been proven. Kumon currently has learning centers in 44 contries.
Giggles & Sugar Kisses will be offering several sets of books to our readers to test for us. You could be the winner of our second give away. This set is geared toward a children ages 2 - 5. The set contains a Tracing book and Numbers 1 - 30. Visit Kumon Publishing and check out their site. Leave us a comment on the books that you see most beneficial to your child. We will randomly select a winner from our posts. This give away will end January 5, 2009. It is open to US Residents 18+ only.
Winner will have 3 days to contact us once they are notified. Failure to contact us will result in disqualification. Posts with invalid email addresses will be disqualified.
We will be listing additional sets over the next month, which includes Mazes, Simple Addition, Telling Time, and Rhyming Words. If you are interested in testing any of these books, be sure to check back. Giggles & Sugar Kisses believes education is the key to success. As a result, we require the winners to follow up with their opinions and comments on the set of books that they win. We would like to share your experience with our other readers, they may be interested in purchasing the books. If you're not willing to follow up, please do not enter the give aways. Thank you and good luck!
Paci Clip Give Away
Look what we've found. You're going to love them. Adorable Monkey Tails at BlueZoo Boutique. When owner Laurie Chau contacted me about her Monkey Tails, I just had to spread the word to my readers. They're available in a variety of designs and colors. My favorite is the Aqua and Chocolate Monkey Tail with the aqua pacifier. It gets 3 snaps and a booty shake. It goes in grandma's bag of fabulicious finds.
If you like unique, you'll love the Diaper Pockets and Swaddle Wraps at the BlueZoo Boutique The Diaper Pocket holds a wipe case and 2 - 3 diapers. The Swaddle Wraps can be found in a variety of fun fabrics.
Laurie's creativity doesn't end there. She has fabulous Paci Pockets too. You're wondering what a Paci Pocket is right? Well, I'm not going to tell you. You have to check this site out for yourself. I will tell you this, BlueZoo Boutique is offering one of our readers a personalized Monkey Tail. You choose the Monkey Tail and Laurie will personalized it up to 8 letters. Aren't you glad you follow Giggles & Sugar Kisses and you're one of the first to know about this great give away.
Here's how you could become a winner: visit BlueZoo Boutique and leave us a comment on your favorite item. If you're a subscriber of our blog, double your chances to win and enter twice. If you're a subscriber to Giggles & Sugar Kisses' Newsletter and the blog, you can become a triple threat and enter three times.
This give away ends January 5, 2009 and is open to US Residents 18+ only. Failure to leave a comment and a valid email address will result in disqualification. Have fun browsing BlueZoo Boutique and good luck.
