Reading is fun with StarFall.com

If you're looking for an online alternative to learning to read from flashcards and DVDs, then you'll like the phonics-based site, StarFall.com.  I've been using the site to teach Maddy letters and letter-word association since she was just over a year old.  But that is just the first step of the learning process.  StarFall.com uses a "systematic phonics approach in conjunction with phonemic awareness" to teach all levels of learners.

Part 1: ABCs-learn letter sounds in isolation and in association with words and images.  I use this section all the time with Maddy and I let her point and choose the letters.  She loves the animal noises and funny little dancing characters.

 

Part 2: Learn to Read-learn vowel + consonant combinations in isolation and in context.

 

Part 3: It's Fun to Read-this section is great for early readers and kids who are struggling at their age level. Kids can listen to the story or click on words they don't know for pronunciation.  Struggling readers can work to improve their reading ability in private or as an extra activity with the features on this site.   Choose from stories about famous artists, classical musicians or have fun with tongue twisters.

Part 4: I'm Reading-your little readers will enjoy the variety of stories in this collection. From Greek Myths and Chinese Fables to Fiction and Non-Fiction stories, reading is not the only lesson they will learn.  And if they come across a word they don't know, the click and listen feature is still there.

The website also features helpful guides for parents and teachers which was designed by a team of educators, artists, and musicians from around the world. The brains behind StarFall.com is the Polis-Shutz family, a husband-wife-son team who also co-founded the BlueMountain.com electronic greeting card company.

Calling all babies: The Rutgers Early Learning Project

Last week I attended my first Montgomery Mom's Club meeting, excited to meet more moms in the area and to introduce Maddy to more kids her age.  Most meetings feature a guest speaker on relevant topics and that day the group welcomed members of the Rutgers Early Learning Project from the Rutgers Early Learning Lab.  Four of the women who run the program, Dr. Vivian Hsu Yang (Assoc. Director), Stella Lee (Lab Tech), Jessica Creesen (Lab Tech) and Amy Bullman Giles (Project Assit.), spoke about the short-term study they run, under the direction of program director Dr. Carolyn Rovee-Collier, to document the learning process and memory with babies from 3 months to 2 years in their own homes. In fact, the Rutgers Early Learning Project has been quoted in most early development textbooks, national magazines like Parents, American Health and Good Housekeeping, and on TV shows like PBS's "Childhood" series and CNN's "Science Watch."

When Rovee-Collier began her studies more than 30 years ago, most people didn't think babies could learn and very few studies were performed.  But from her initial study with colorful baby mobiles, she found that infants do learn and can remember at various lengths.  The current project includes 3 tasks, all of which are performed in the baby's own home environment with a parent present.  While the 3 tasks involve different "games", they all involve 2-4 days of visits of about 5-15minutes depending on the study. They all include a control test and some form of extinction or non-reinforcement test to test for memory and retention.

1. Mobile Game (2, 3 or 6 mos): A colorful mobile is brought in to the baby's room and a ribbon is placed around his or her ankle. Tests show the babies learn that as they move their ankle, so does the mobile and it becomes a playful game. 
2. Train Game (6-24months): The baby learns that pushing a lever will make a toy train move around a track. The train apparatus includes colorful fabric walls and realistic figurines which can be changed to test for learning and retention. 
3. Puppet Imitation Game (6-24months): The baby is shown two hand puppets.  He or she watches as the hand of one puppet is removed in order to ring a bell inside. The next puppet is then returned to see if the baby attempts to remove the hand to ring a bell.  Tests did show that babies reacted appropriately with the 2nd puppet, but the younger babies had better retention when shown the 2nd puppet immediately rather than with a longer break in time. 

In addition to performing these tasks, the lab staff studies how verbal skill and motor ability relates to memory and learning. Most parents are asked to observe and record their baby over short periods of time.  With their permission, task moderators also videotape the puppet game in order to record results. 

At the conclusion of the study, babies are given a Certificate of Appreciation and parents receive a report on the findings. 

If you're interested in learning more about this volunteer project, visit http://earlylearning.rutgers.edu/ or call 732-445-4819.

Scan It! while you shop

There's definitely something empowering and convenient about being in control of your own food at the supermarket. Last year, at a Stop and Shop blogger event, I learned of their "Scan It" station where not only could you bag your own groceries, but you can scan the food and keep track of purchases (especially if you have a  tendency to impulse shop like me). I finally tried it out a few months ago and I'm completely hooked. If you don't know what the "Scan It" system is, think of it like setting up your bridal and baby registry only YOU have to pay for the items at the end. Speaking of paying-you follow a 2-step scanning process at a regular or self-checkout line.


The "Scan It" stations are located at the entrance of each Stop and Shop store and include some very simple instructions.  Besides the convenience, the "Scan It" system yields numerous benefits for shoppers both going solo or with a children:

• Track your purchases: Most of us have a budget in mind when grocery shopping. With Scan-it, you can keep track of your total while your shop. If you find that you're going over, you can remove items with a simple click and scan. 
• Bag your own groceries: If you are like me and prefer to bag groceries your own way, you'll like this system. As you enter the store, the "Scan It" station has paper and plastic bags to choose.  You can always go back for more if you need, but I always grab extras just in case.
• Receive deli alerts: My Stop and Shop in Kendall Park/Franklin Twp has a deli counter kiosk where you can type in your order and keep shopping while it is prepared. When your order is up, a text message will be sent to the Scan-It gun just in case you didn't remember your number as it was called over the loudspeaker. 
• Receive exclusive specials: Weekly specials are available at your fingertips and automatically apply discounts when you scan the items.
• Math lesson with the kids: The supermarket is like one big math game.  There is so much you can do with your kids to build their basic math skills like addition, substraction and estimation.  Use the "Scan It" to play a guessing game for each time you either add or remove an item. Let kids see the current total and the price of the item and then guess the new total.
• Let the kids help: Sometimes you have to pick up multiple items in one aisle. Let the kids run, grab and scan. But rotate aisles with the kids otherwise, you'll have them fighting over the gun. 

If you want to give "Scan It" a try, head over to one of these New Jersey Stop and Shop locations: 

Franklin Township

Matawan

Somerset (940 Easton Ave.)

Tom’s River

Clifton (160 Kindsland Road)

Howell

Hackensack

Wycoff

Dumont

Carlstadt

Teaneck

Union

Bayonne

Raritan

Flemington

Jackson

Wayne

Morris Plains

Somerset (1221 Route #27)

Clifton (1189 Broad Street)

Madison

Sunny 7 November Giveaway: Orange you happy you use Sun and Earth?

How often does a dust mitt come along that picks up dust like a champ and can double as a Sesame Street character? Okay, so the 2nd part might just be my random mind at work, but if you throw on some googly eyes(thanks for the idea Jay!) it could work, right? I tried getting Maddy to think of Mr. Dust Mitt as another Elmo buddy, but you can see what she thinks of the mitt below!

But that's only one of the awesomely good items you'll get from Sun and Earth during my Sunny 7 November Giveaway!  You may have read how much their products have helped me be a better cleaner (my husband is the pro..sorry ladies, he already has a day job!) or about how their eco-friendly products extend to the biodegradable dryer sheets.  But either way, I'm loving the fresh citrus smell of their products and I feel comfortable knowing that I'm cleaning my house with safe products. I already ordered another shipment to replace some the free goodies they sent us back in August.

So enough about me.  Today is all about you! This is your chance to win your very own Sun and Earth prize pack.  We're going to give your kitchen cleaners an extreme home makeover! Here is what you'll win:

1 – 22 oz All Purpose Cleaner-->my favorite!

1 – 22 oz Glass Cleaner

1 – 20 ct Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Pacs

1 – 22 oz Xtra Concentrated Dish Liquid

1 – 8 oz Handsoap

2 – Microfiber Cloth (hard surface and glass)---> REALLY great at getting the smudges out of the windows!

1 – Dust Mitt

1 – Reusable Shopping Bag

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a comment here why you'd like to try Sun and Earth products

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES (just remember to leave a comment letting me know which of the following you did)

1. Follow Sun and Earth on Twitter
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. Join the Sun and Earth Facebook group
4. Join the Mrs Mo's New Jersey Facebook group
5. Sign-up for my monthly newsletter

Giveaway ends November 30th!

Mrs Mo Reviews: eebee's MIX & MASH adventures cook book

I very seldom call a baby toy/video/game/book magic but I'm telling you, that's what eebee is.

Eebee adventures (follow on Twitter), an award winning and Parenting Magazine approved TV, DVD, toy and book series from Sterling Publishing, recently announced the release of eebee's Mix & Mash adventures, the first cook-with-your-baby book and DVD.

I know what you might be thinking..."so is eebee like another Baby Einstein series?"  My answer is that it's so much more than that. It's not a video where you sit your child in front of the screen and expect or hope that they "get smarter" just by watching.  While it's fun for a child to watch the goofy eebee and the bright colors, it's a learning experience for parents as Krsity, eebee's "mom" models developmentally appropriate activities that you can do with your children to build their cognitive and physical ability.

As Dr. Geroge Forman, Ph.D, University of Massacres, states in the accompanying DVD, the eebee adventures series has a "curriculum embedded in ordinary moments." Simply stated-the everyday activities, from flicking a light switch to pouring water out of a bucket, are all learning experiences for your child. And the eebee adventures family has added to their library the interactive cookbook which is now available online or in your neighborhood Barnes and Noble.

Win a Blackberry Tour!

This past August, I had an opportunity to meet and speak with Kathy Buckworth, author of The BlackBerry Diaries, during the East Coast leg of her U.S. book tour. Now, Kathy is done touring the country and has even made an appearance at Women's Conference hosted by Maria Shriver. She's a busy lady, but still has time to stay connected with her fans and linked into her real world schedule of on-the-go-hockey-mom with the aide of her loyal Blackberry, Seamus, by her side (or her hip). But Seamus is no ordinary mobile device. He's like a 5th child (without the hockey tuition). Just check out an excerpt from his baby book:

My name is : Seamus

My favorite food is : Anything with a high voltage

I love to eat : Information that my Mom feeds to me.

My sleep habits are: When I need to shut down, I can totally turn off the whole world.

My mommy loves to buy me : New leather holsters, and pink waterproof covers.

My daddy always : He's more attached to my twin brother, Serious. They bond on business issues.

A cute quirk of mine : When I really have something to say, I buzz and vibrate and flash lights.

My latest milestone: I have mastered Twitter through Twitterberry

My favorite people are: My mom and my other human siblings. But they're not allowed to hug me too tight.

People say I look like : I am well loved.

My favorite toy is : Thumb wrestling with Mom

My favorite game to play : Brickbreaker, of course.

Do you like bath time: NO!!!!!!!

What makes you mad : When I'm trying to get Mom's attention and she has to tend to one of my siblings.

Favorite snack : Tidbits of information

Belly or Back sleeper : I'm fine either way, just not on my side.

Do you have a nickname: Mom's little BB

Awww, so cute right? I'm considering a name for my phone. Maybe something with an E since Maddy seems to like carrying it around like it's Elmo or Eebee. Maybe Emmie or Emmet or something. But anyway, back to the contest:


It's now my turn to pass the title of modern-mobile-mom to another lucky woman who is probably saying to herself: "ugh if only I had a Blackberry..I could _______(insert wildest dream)." If you can dream, then you can play this game and win a BlackBerry Tour, courtesy of Research in Motion!

All you have to do to enter is the following:

1. Leave a comment answering the following: "If I had a BlackBerry, I'd name it ______"
2. Earn extra entries by Tweeting about this contest with my Twitter handle attached (@MrsMoNJ) or leaving a comment on Facebook

If you have already read Blackberry Diaries, you can now pre-order Kathy's newest book, Shut Up and Eat. Here's a little about the book:

In Shut Up and Eat, humourist and parenting author Kathy Buckworth applies her razor-sharp wit to an examination of the family meal. Experts claim that sitting down to eat together can prevent children from getting into trouble while simultaneously creating close-knit families. In Buckworth’s opinion, that’s an awful lot to expect from a meatloaf! What about the son who thinks his food tastes better on the blue plate with the fish? Or the daughter who won’t eat anything green? And let’s not even talk about the mom who’d rather be doing anything but standing in front of the stove (drinking a glass of wine comes immediately to mind). Laugh-out-loud funny, more accurate than most of us would care to admit—and with a few recipes thrown in for good measure—Shut Up and Eat is a must-read for any woman who’s ever wondered: What the hell am I cooking tonight?

You can meet Kathy online by following her on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook.

CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 9TH!

Are you a Mrs G VIB?

Today is the launch of the Mrs G TV & Appliances VIB series, the first of its kind for a business in the Princeton area. It is also my first time as a Blogger Event Coordinator INSTEAD OF the blogger attending. I'm switching hats for the day and it's exciting!

I'm so excited for everyone to meet CEO Debbie Schaeffer, a 3rd generation female business owner, who will take attendees on a tour of her 20,000 sf. designer showroom. They will learn how Debbie has continued to make Mrs G TV & Appliances a success for nearly 75 years. In addition, attendees will be treated to a delicious Salmon lunch prepared live on the Electrolux (the event sponsor) induction cook-top, a fast and reliable kitchen appliance.

If you want to be part of the Mrs G VIB experience and attend one of our future blogger workshops, leading off with Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, Dr. Weigh, in January, give me a shout or send me a Tweet.

Mrs Mo Reviews: Disney Digital Books

This morning after breakfast, Maddy sat still in her booster-seat, pointing with excitement and saying "dao" to all the birds flying around the pages of Disney's Bambi. When the page turned and she spotted Thumper, her face lit up and out came another resounding "dao!" This was a unique experience for two reasons: 1) the computer was reading Bambi and turning the pages online and 2) Maddy actually sat still and listened to more than 2 pages of a book!

Even though Maddy is only a year and a half, reading is already a challenge as a joint activity. And it's not because she doesn't like it. It's just the contrary: she loves turning the pages- forwards and backwards-but after less than a minute on my lap, she usually hops (or slides) off, taking the book with her. So much for story time.

But not so fast!

Last week I had an opportunity to preview and learn about a new online reading experience by Disney Worldwide Publishing called Disney Digital Books. The subscription-based website features over 500 Disney titles for early readers through junior high (I made SURE Sleeping Beauty was in there!) and has graphics and an interface that gives as realistic a reading experience as possible. Below is an image of one of the Toy Story books available.



The Disney Digital Books are set up in 3 formats:

• "Look and Listen"(shown above) for the early or struggling readers to "watch" the book online as a narrator guides the reader with highlighted words and automatic turning pages.
  
  
• Self-Guided: This time the child is in control. Using the highlight-wand to click and hear the word aloud, your child can read at his/her own pace, go back to a word and hear it again and even click on a Dictionary icon to learn the meaning.
  
  
• Story Builder: Readers are given templates of their favorite stories where they can modify the text of the book by choosing words from a bank. They can move characters around like digital colorforms and then print the story when they're finished.
  

In theory and in practice, the format of Disney Digital Books includes great tools for kids to either develop, strengthen and improve their reading skills, but it does not aim to replace the product that has made Disney the largest publisher of children's books and magazines in the U.S.

"We don't want to take away experience of reading with a kid on the lap," said Disney Worldwide president Russell Hampton. "This is an additive. Most studies show, parents want kids to read more so we're trying to give kids a virtual library ."

And let's be honest about what the current generation of kids and future generations are doing in their free time at home (or when they should be doing homework): they are likely on the computer or playing a video game. Disney is bringing a new option to the table for parents to consider, especially if they have a resistant or struggling reader at home.

"Nothing turns off kids more to reading than an obstacle," said educational consultant Gail Lovely who was also at the event. "This is our ability to help them in a way that's non-judgemental. It's like a coach who doesn't make them feel bad for not knowing a word."

This point hit close to home for me. When I was in 7th grade, I struggled with Integers in Math. I wasn't comfortable admitting my struggle to the teacher, even though my grades showed it, and I was obviously exhibiting my frustration at home. One day, my mom came home with an Integers CD-Rom and suggested that I try it out after dinner. And I can honestly say, that because I was on my own and playing an Integers game at my own speed, I finally grasped the concept and was able to move on from that major obstacle. When I taught Math to the same age group and saw the same frustration over Integers with my students, I always suggested to them and their parents to go online to a pre-selected website that offered drills and games to get the extra practice (key word EXTRA). While daily drills, homework, classwork and assessments are all part of the learning process, so are enrichment and educational games.

Final verdict: I do recommend Disney Digital Books to parents, as long as they understand that it is NOT replacement for reading real books, but should act as fun enrichment and independent practice. For $7.95 a month of $79.95 for a year, think of the money you would save on tutors and CD-Roms just by giving your son or daughter a fun and easy way to get some extra reading practice. And parents still have control at a distance, because the program has a feature for parents to track and monitor their child's progress. Disney hopes to bring the Disney Digital Books to schools and libraries as well.

Helpful Extras:

• Story trivia and point tracking for kids to beat their personal best or compete against friends and/or siblings
• Print your custom story and share with friends and family
• Search for books based on reading level
• Your kids can connect with their other friends on the site
• Personal information used for registration of parents and kids is self-contained on the site and does not leak onto the Web and is not searchable through Google, Bing, etc.
  

For extra fun, link up your laptop to your flat screen TV and let your kids or the family "read" together (see below at the large screen from the blogger screening room)

Sunny 7 October Giveaway! Your Laundry Will Thank You

October is Laundry Appreciation Month for Sun and Earth because they are awarding 1 lucky winner a totally awesome Fabric Care Package including products that I have been using very happily. I'm actually all out of my "Light Citrusy" scented detergent (boo hoo!), but have an entire Unscented container left!

And let's talk dryer sheets for a second. These aren't your average fuzzy and flow-in-the-wind dryer sheets. Actually they're not fuzzy or flowy at all. They are like a paper consistency. But that's because the Sun and Earth dryer sheets are biodegradable. After 21 days in fact! Here's a soil test to prove it! (from the Sun and Earth site)



Cool right? So I know you want to try these products out for yourself. And now, 1 of you can FOR FREE! Here's what you get:

(1) 50 oz Unscented 2x Laundry Detergent

(1) 50 oz Light Citrusy Scented 2x Laundry Detergent

(1) 80 ct Unscented Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets

(1) 40 oz Liquid Fabric Softener (with a fresh Spring Scent)

(1) .338 oz On the Spot Instant Stain Remover [Pen]

(1) Reusable Shopping Tote

How to win:

• Leave a comment at this post
  

To earn additional entries

• Sign-up at our sister site, NJMyWay.com, and leave a comment here that you did so.
• Tweet about this giveaway using #Sunny7 or @SunandEarth along with the link and then leave a comment that you Tweeted.
• Join the Mrs Mo's New Jersey Fan Page and leave a comment under the giveaway post
• Join the NJMyWay.com Fan Page and leave a comment here that you did so

Contest ends on Monday November 2, 2009

Guest post: Inside the mind of NJ blogger and expectant father Chris Illuminati

These are the ramblings of an expectant father. Feel for him.

The wife's issues become my issues.

She can't sleep, I can't sleep. Actually she won't LET me sleep--story for another time. She wants ice cream, I suddenly want ice cream. She can't find any good maternity clothes and I'm up all night cross-stitching a nice pleated skirt and...kidding.... I haven't knitted since the accident of '98. Don't ask it's much too painful.

"We should open a maternity store. There is crap in this area" she muttered on the car ride to our seventh stop of the day. "And all the clothes they have are awful."

You'd think this would be a massive market considering the celeb obsession with being pregnant. Is there a celebrity not talking about having a kid, being pregnant, or finding some random child to adopt? I imagined there was a maternity store in every mall in America but I never really paid attention. Now that we are looking for store; nada. I'm sure there are probably overpriced boutiques in major cities and online mega mommy malls but where does “Susie in the Sticks” go to get a comfortable pair of pants?

Also, where can I get a good pair of maternity pants for men? Chubby Hubby isn't just a flavor anymore, it's a lifestyle.

----------------------------------------

Just this morning, for no particular reason, I woke up thinking about London. I've never been to London. I've only seen it’s sights on television. I never in my life ever entertained the idea of taking a trip there until just this morning. I don't even like to travel. I don't know me anymore. I kind of miss me but this new me is rather interesting.

I was staring up at the ceiling wondering if the wife would be into a trip to the...what's London's nickname? Every city has a nickname. The City of Lights, The City of Brotherly Love, the Big Apple, the "don't go there if you want to live city" or Camden as it's known to locals. Anyway, I want to go to London. Soon.

I rolled over to breach the subject and spotted the baby bump.

Oh. Right.

Being an expectant parent really puts a damper on the daydreams. I'm sure Ocean City is also a lovely place to visit.

----------------------------------------

Wife: "The cat looks lonely. Maybe we should consider getting him a friend."

Me: "We will."

Wife: "Really? A kitten?"

Me: "No. A baby."

Wife: "You suck."

----------------------------------------

I love kids. This will come in handy as a father. Recently, I've been more observant of their behaviors. Watching. Noting. Cringing.

Before I thought everything children did was hysterical and wonderful, mostly because they weren't my kids. I could go home and leave them to the minding of the pair that spawned such a terrible little monster.

Let's go over the field notes from a recent trip to the optical shop.

An adorable little girl was waiting for her mom to buy ridiculous looking and overpriced glasses. She had a whistle. She loved that whistle. She blew and blew. Blew and blew. Blew.

You'd think she would have grown tired of the sound after a few minutes.

You.

Would.

Think.

Does her mom even notice? Has she become comfortably dumb?. I mean, numb? Will I get to that level of just not giving a crap what my kid does so long as he or she is happy and out of my hair for a couple minutes?

That little musician might still be blowing, I am not sure because I left the store to find a whistle of my own.

Two can play at this incredibly loud game.

Chris Illuminati is an author, blogger, and delightfully clueless. You can read all about him at chrisilluminati.com.

Kids Get Arthritis Too: Meet Author and Advocate Kelly Rouba

Kelly Rouba wears many hats: She's an author, a journalist, a pr professional, a public speaker, a NJ resident and a young woman with a strong voice. Kelly also has Juvenile Arthritis and has released her first book called Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide, sharing the stories of other kids, teens and young adults who live with the disease which affects more than 300,000 children in the U.S. Writing the book was an opportunity for Kelly to be that resource for families that did not exist when she was younger.

"I wrote this book to fill a void," said Kelly. "Prior to its release, resources on juvenile arthritis were either outdated or geared towards parents. This book is one that families can read together, and I have received positive feedback from quite a few who have done just that."

Since the release of her book in March, Kelly has met other people across the country, either through her blog or at her various speaking engagements, that have been truly grateful to her for bringing more attention to juvenile arthritis, a disease which she has lived with since the age of 2.

"I am often approached by parents of children living with juvenile arthritis, and they are devastated from having to watch their children live in pain and struggling to cope as they lose more and more of their mobility to this disease. It is hard for me to hear their stories and see their videos on their blogs because it is a constant reminder of what I went through as a child and continue to go through as an adult."

From her pain came advocacy and from an early age, Kelly has been an active volunteer and spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation and Arthritis National Research Foundation. It was because of her service that the ANRF honored Kelly with the Kelly Award which will be used to fund juvenile arthritis research.

"My biggest wish is that funds donated to the Kelly Award for Juvenile Arthritis will lead to a cure and our youngest generation won't have to experience all the pain--physically and emotionally--that I endured."

Even though Kelly has been able to spark local interest in her book and awareness about juvenile arthritis, there is still not enough national coverage given to this truly heartbreaking disease.

"Many commercials and television segments undermine the severity of arthritis. As someone who has suffered from the disease for more than 27 years, I know how damaging it can be to one's body. For this reason, I have been advocating on behalf of all those living with arthritis and working hard to raise funds for better treatments and even a cure."

You can read more about Kelly and her book at her blog: kellyrouba.blogspot.com. Her book, Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide is available online in hardcover and for the Kindle.

Contests for your kids

One of the benefits of being a 'mommy blogger' is the relationship you form with various family brands. And when you get to know the people behind the name, you have a new appreciation for the product and find yourself telling friends, neighbors and colleagues to get their products.

That's why I'm happy to share 2 great contests going on now from Dole and Earth's Best.

---

Dole is running their Bowl-a-Day contest through October 2nd with an opportunity for entrants to to win $300 just by sharing how they enjoy the Dole fruit cups. If you challenge your friends, you qualify to win $1000 for you AND a charity of your choice! I just entered to win for Feeding America. The Dole website also offers a variety of recipes, FREE coupons and printables for your family to enjoy. Here are some health facts about the Dole fruit bowls:

• DOLE Fruit Bowls are 80 calories or fewer
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are rich in Vitamin C
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are naturally Fat Free
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are low in Sodium
• DOLE Fruit Bowls have been honored as the ChefsBest® Award-Winner since 2004!

Enter now! Contest ends October 2nd.

---

Maddy isn't eating baby food anymore, but when she did, I often purchased the multi-packs of Earth's Best food, not only because they are Organic, but because of the delicious sounding food combinations like Pumpkin Apple, Apple Turkey Cranberry and Sweet Potato Cinnamon. I may have sneaked a few tastes here and there.


When Maddy was 10 months old, I captured a funny moment of her eating a blueberry and apple blend. You can believe we posted it on Facebook and sent it around to our family since it was so funny, but now you can view it on the Eath's Best YouTube channel for their Earth's Best Most Memorable Feeding Contest going on now through November 30th.

Just by uploading your child's feeding video, entrants will receive over $5 worth of Earth's Best coupons. And then 25 lucky babies will be selected as the new faces of "Earth's Best Generation Pure." The lucky parents will win a month's worth of Earth's Best food, diapers and wipes value over $200.

Lastly, Earth's Best will donate a product for each video uploaded to Feed The Children. All the more reason to share your baby's most memorable feeding experience!
Enter now. Contest ends November 30th.

Sunny 7 September Giveaway! Ends 9/28

Happy Labor Day everyone! Your gift for working so hard is a chance to win a fantabulous prize-pack of eco-friendly/non-toxic cleaning products from Sun and Earth. How do I know they are so great? Because I'm a Sunny 7 Mom and have been using the products for over a month now with a new love (and skill) for cleaning! I recently raved about the All-Purpose Cleaner (which is one of the prizes) and have posted a video at my YouTube Channel. You may have seen some of my Tweets with the other Sunny 7 Moms. But if this is your first visit, welcome!

So here we go, the 2nd Sun and Earth Giveaway Prize Pack includes:

(1) 22 oz All Purpose Cleaner
(1) 4 oz Concentrated All Purpose Cleaner REFILL (refills 22 oz bottle)
(1) .338 oz On the Spot Instant http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Brand&v1=HP+Pavilion&series_name=dv4t_series Remover [Pen]
(1) 4 oz 2x Laundry Detergent
(1) 4 oz Xtra Dishwashing Liquid

**Offer available in Continental U.S. only.

How to win:

• Leave a comment at this post
  

To earn additional entries

• Sign-up at our sister site, NJMyWay.com, and leave a comment here that you did so.
• Tweet about this giveaway using #Sunny7 or @SunandEarth along with the link and then leave a comment that you Tweeted.
• Join the Mrs Mo's New Jersey Fan Page and leave a comment under the giveaway post
• Join the NJMyWay.com Fan Page and leave a comment here that you did so

Contest ends on Monday September 28th

Are You a Modern Mom? Win The BlackBerry Diaries by Kathy Buckworth

Did you know that there is NO Ann Taylor, Bloomies or Macy's in Canada? No joke!

That's why author Kathy Buckworth came to America: to shop.

Well, actually, she came down to promote her 4th book, The BlackBerry Diaries, on a U.S. tour which included a two-day stop in Bridgewater which just happens have to have a FABULOUS mall. But while shopping is really fun and necessary while you're on a book tour through various cities like Boston, Vegas, Atlanta and Bridgewater, the real fun for Kathy (I'm just assuming) was to share her newest book with other moms and talk about what it's really like to be a modern mobile mom. And thanks to the lovely folks at RIM (Research in Motion), the company behind The BlackBerry, I had the exciting opportunity to come meet Kathy and talk with her and her audience about my life as a work-at-home mom/NJ blogger who is also connected via a mobile device (we'll leave the actual brand out of it).

While America has Jenny McCarthy's motherhood books, Canada has Kathy Buckworth. But that's going to change very soon, I can feel it! Why? Because her book is just too hilarious, too real and too GOOD to put down. Her "Adventures in Modern Motherhood" chart a year-long account of how her 2 worlds-technology and children-have come together under 1 roof.
I love the fact that even though I only have 1 child, I can relate so much to the antics that Kathy ensues with 4 children. Like Kathy, I am a work-at-home mom who has been able to tap into work after my toddler has fallen asleep in the car or is enjoying a yummy snack in the highchair. And sure, maybe the mobile phone is like The Gameboy of the 80s, but honestly it really does change your life having one. And Kathy takes readers through her life changing adventure balancing the demands of a published author and mom/school-volunteer/hockey-mom/doting wife. I just can't wait for my own children to wake me up at 6am on Mother's Day with a picture drawn of myself donning a mustache and a huge butt. Can't wait!

What else is cool is that the lovely RIM folks have given me 4 copies of Kathy's book, The BlackBerry Diaries, to give away! But wait! Only serious applicants should apply. So please consider the checklist below. If you say "yes" to at least 1, then you must get your hands on The BlackBerry Diaries, either in store, online or win it here!

• Your mobile device really is like part of the family, but it doesn't need potty training, college tuition or a driver's license.
  
  
• You find yourself getting out of the same 'blah blah' convo with a mom at the park by rigging your mobile with an alarm to sound like your ringer or you make-believe you just got buzzed with an important email.
  
  
• You suddenly find yourself an in-demand blogger who receives countless emails a day requesting a review of this product and an announcement of that event or your presence at this workshop.
  
  
• You really are watching your child's soccer/lacrosse/track/basketball/football/cheerleading game, but you've been able to multi-task with one of your phone's built-in games and applications.
  
  
• A restaurant doesn't just serve food anymore, it serves TwitPic or Facebook worthy masterpieces that you have to share with your hungry friends.
  
  
• NO ONE is to TOUCH your mobile device unless they a) have washed their hands, b) are wearing latex gloves or c) have a true 9-1-1 emergency.
  
  
• You might just be one of those parents who gets caught texting a reminder to your child during school even though texting is strictly prohibited.
  

If you want more, feel free to visit Kathy's ongoing blog at BlackBerryDiaries.net, become a fan on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. But here's your chance to win a copy of your own to read and pass along to your other modern-mom friends who, like you and me and Kathy, would not be complete without your little mobile friend/child.

Here's how to win:

1) Leave a comment telling us with a unique story of your mobile motherhood OR how a mobile device, like a BlackBerry would make a difference in your mommyhood.

For extra entries
1) Sign up for Mrs Mo's Mailing List and/or

2) Join Mrs Mo's New Jersey Fan Page and leave a comment under the BlackBerry Diaries post telling us about our life as a mobile mom and/or

3) Tweet about this entry with the following "I am a modern mobile mom. Are you?" and paste the link to this post.


Contest ends Wednesday September 10th at 9pm

Sunny 7 Review: A Comfortable Cleaning Experience

Normally when I purchase cleaning products, the 2 things I look for are price and natural/plant based. But Sun and Earth has given me another category to consider: comfort.

When my box of Sun and Earth goodies arrived earlier this month, the first thing I lifted out was the bottle of All-Purpose Cleaner, holding it by the handle/spout. And it was THE most comfortable spray bottle I've ever held. No joke. I even had my mom do a hold-test when she came to visit recently.

As you can see in the pictures below, the Sun and Earth handle (left) is wider across the front and longer than the other eco-brand(right), giving your trigger fingers more room. What a difference the construction of the spray bottle can make in a cleaning experience.


While both cleaning bottles advertise/contain the same non-toxic and eco-friendly plant extracts, I definitely prefer to use the Sun and Earth brand, mostly because of the comfort factor (but also for the nice citrus scent). And if you haven't guessed already, by my first post and previous tweets, I am NOT a fan of cleaning and am usually trumped by my husband's prowess in that area. Yeah, I'm not a typical wife/mother. I'm not good at cleaning. But I'm getting better at it!

The Sun and Earth All-Purpose Spray Cleaner is available in 22oz, A case of 6, 1 Gallon, 5 Gallons and trial size. Prices start at $4.09.

Stay tuned for your chance to win a Sun and Earth product on September 7th!

BlackBerry Diaries Book Signing Event This Week!

Are you a mom on the go? Are you a work-at-home mom balancing the demands of work and the demands of your children? Do you like being "connected" at a moment's notice? Do you sometimes feel like your mobile device is like another child?

If any of these questions resonate with you, you MUST come out to the Bridgewater Mall this Tuesday and Wednesday for Kathy Buckworth's book signing event for her new book The BlackBerry Diaries, "a no-holds-barred trip through the wacky world of toddlers and technology. Kathy takes the reader through a year-long blog account of life with her new BlackBerry and how, as a Mississauga, Ont.-based mother of four, her two worlds — technology and children — collide."-blackberrydiaries.net

I've been reading the book and already find it addictive, refreshingly real and hilarious. Her blog entry chapters are an easy read, especially when at the end of the day I may only have 10-15 minutes left in consciousness. She also says what many of us want to and she TOTALLY gets what it's like to be one of those in between moms: full-time stay-at-home but not quite full-time work-at-home. The only difference (for which she doesn't hold against me) is I am an iPhone mom while she, obviously, is raising a BlackBerry Smart Phone. But no love lost!

So grab the kids (or leave them with a sitter) and come to the Bridgewater Mall this week! I'll be there on Wednesday so let me know if you're coming! Follow me on Twitter or Facebook. You can also send a Tweet to Kathy!

Teaching Technology to Kids for Twenty Years: Jen Morack of Computer Explorers

Are you smarter than your preschooler? When it comes to computer knowledge, you may not be!

Since 1984, children as young as 3 years old have been enriched by technology education with Computer Tots/Computer Explorers, a Technology Education program for learners aged 3 to adult. Montgomery Township resident, Jen Morack is celebrating 20 years with the home-based business as president of the Mercer and Hunterdon location.

When Jen started with the company, Technology Education involved introducing students to the Apple IICs and its parts. But now computers have become a tool for education. “We’ve gone from “this is a mouse” 20 years ago to utilizing digital cameras, digital microscopes, and robotics and GPS systems in our courses.”

With a curriculum written by educators, each Computer Tots class is designed to engage groups of 3-4 children in computer lessons that teach a variety of educational tasks like Math, Reading, Problem Solving and Memory development. The motor skill development is also apparent, as young children learn how to maneuver the mouse with one hand. After only a few weeks with Computer Tots, you may hear words like Icon, Desktop, CD-Rom, Delete and even USB Port from your child and don’t be surprised if they give you a lesson with using the computer.

“Our preschoolers of today are “digital natives,” added Jen. “They are born into this technological age of cell phones, laptops, netbooks etc. while most parents are still “digital immigrants” – learning as we go!”

While reflecting on her favorite memories of running and teaching Computer Explorers, Jen recalled a conversation she had with one of her parents that validated the special and lasting effect that a quality educational program, like Computer Tots/Computer Explorers, can have on a family.

"A mother came up to me to tell me how much she loved our program and that she was registering her 6^th and last child for our courses. Our first COMPUTERTOT from this family is now 18 and going off to college!"

From Mrs. Mo: I can personally affirm the value of starting computer education in pre-school because I worked for Jen as one of her Computer Tots teachers before Maddy was born. I taught small groups of kids aged 3-5 and saw first hand the motor skill and memory development that grew out of the weekly lessons. With 6 years experience of teaching middle school Computers and Math, I was amazed that 3 year old children could remember that the computer screen was called a Desktop and the little pictures were called Icons. And you know what? It was fun for them, because we played CD-ROM games like Little Bear and Finding Nemo.

To find a Computer Tots location in your area, visit www.ComputerExplorers.com.