I 100% recommend “Bob Books Sight Words - Kindergarten” and “Bob Books Sight Words - First Grade” for anyone who has an early reader or a struggling reader in their home as an entertaining and fun way to master sight words with out overwhelming or intimidating the child.

Thanks to the fabulous people over at Scholastic Books, we also have the opportunity to give away a couple of Bob Books Prize packs!!

About Bob Books:
From the #1 bestselling learn-to-read program come two brand-new sets focused on learning and practicing Sight Words.
Sight Words are words that are recognized by sight rather than sounded out, in order to achieve reading fluency. They are the most frequently used words in the English language, and are often unable to be read phonetically (“was”, “are”, and “out” are examples). Bob Books Sight Words feature the top Sight Words in two sets – one for kindergarten and one for first grade – in order to allow parents and children to read, learn, and practice easily and enjoyably.
Each Sight Words box includes 10 original books, 30 flashcards, and a parent guide. Soon your child will be saying “I read the whole book!”®

To learn more about Scholastic Books or Bob Books, please visit: http://www.scholastic.com/bobbooks

Full disclosure: We were provided a set of books at no cost to review and the prizes for the giveaway, but no compensation for this post, nor were we influenced, directed or told what to post-as always, this review is based on our actual experiences with the product.

Developed by parents, Tiny Bites food shears are a must have for all families and caretakers. The food shears make it so easy to cut all foods into the tiniest little bites comfortably-and they are very well constructed with food grade stainless steel blades that will last. Forget your fork and knife and go for the Tiny Shears!

Your Tiny Bites food shears come in packs of two for $9.99 (I know!) so you can keep a pair in your purse and a pair in the kitchen-super handy when you make the “impromptu dinner out because karate when longer than expected and I forgot to thaw anything” run. Both pair have a safety cover so the shears will not damage your purse or diaper bag and they won’t nick you when you reach in to grab something. And, let’s not forget about being able to cut pancakes and other foods into shapes - we love Tiny Bites.



The lovely couple behind Tiny Bites were nice enough to send us an extra pair to share with one lucky reader. All you have to do is enter below-good luck!!



Here’s your chance…

About Tiny Bites: Ed and Anila Nitekman designed and created Tiny Bites Food Shears because every parent they knew, themselves included, had meal time angst and dinner table battles, regardless of the age of their child. Their company, Tiny Bites, Inc., is dedicated to developing products to make meal time safe, fun and easy for parents and kids. Their belief is that kids eat more if food is easy and fun to eat.

Visit Tiny Bites online today!

TheBestMoms.com received a complimentary set of food shears to review and an additional set to giveaway. There was no compensation or other influence in this product review, which is based solely on our own opinions and experiences with the product.

Baby GoGo is fashionably dressed in fun colors and patterns that don’t give a hint towards male or female-just bright fun patterns that any baby could wear. This takes away from the common misconception that baby dolls are just for little girls. Why can’t a little boy feel comfortable learning how to care for someone else? Or in my particular case, why can’t a girl that just doesn’t like frilly pink lacy toys feel comfortable learning to care for and play with a baby doll?

Baby GoGo by Lil Sib would be a very valuable tool families could use to introduce the concept of a baby to kids that are getting ready to become big brothers or big sisters. Baby dolls are classic toys that Lil Sib has updated so that all children would feel comfortable playing with them, and all parents would feel comfortable with their child playing with Baby GoGo.

Children will also love the wonderfully illustrated book that comes with Baby GoGo, tell all about Baby GoGo’s first ride home. The kids that we had try out Baby GoGo were thrilled to read a book all about the baby. Baby GoGo also comes with its own super soft blanket, bright pjs and matching cap. The must have diaper bag accessory is designed with bright colors and patterns, made of sturdy canvas and it comes with a diaper for Baby GoGo and pockets just like real diaper bags.

The Best Part…

Lil’ Sib has not only given us a Baby GoGo and diaper bag accessory to review, they have also provided an additional Baby GoGo and diaper bag accessory for one of our lucky readers!! To enter, fill out the form below-and Good Luck!

From the Manufacturer:
The Baby GoGo™ Goes Home Doll Set, priced at $39.99, comes with the 13-inch doll dressed in soft, cozy pajamas and a hat and accompanied by a beautifully detailed “blankie,” and a full-color “Baby GoGoTM Goes Home” storybook, which follows the baby’s homecoming after birth and getting to know siblings and family. Baby GoGoTM is appropriate for children ages three and older. Also available is a line of accessories, starting with a diaper bag, a child-sized bag made of 100 percent cotton canvas that includes a cotton diaper and has plenty of room for children to add their own essentials. It is priced at $24.99. The Moses Bed, priced at $29.99 and available this summer, is also made of 100 percent cotton material, and is the perfect place for children to put Baby GoGoTM down for a nap. Straps are just the right length to allow children to easily carry the bed around the house and to play dates.

About Little Sib, LLC Little Sib provides children with toys that nurture and inspire them to be healthy, loving men and women through imaginative play. The company’s first product , Baby GoGoTM, reinvents the classic baby doll. It’s fun, colorful, safe, environmentally friendly and the answer to the outdated, traditional baby doll that is limited in its versatility for children of all races and genders. Visit the web site at www.babygogodoll.com.
—————————————————————–
While Lil’ Sib provided the products for review and to be given away, TheBestMoms.com was not compensated for, nor influenced in writing this review.

Here’s what the company said about the Super Wash Balls:
Laundry without Chemical Detergent (More than 1000+ Laundry load per Super Wash Ball+) Patent Ceramic Technology attracts dirt to Ceramic Balls and lifts dirt from clothes - Nano Silver Ceramic Balls Kills 99.9 % Bacteria Specific & Scientific Ball Design for Laundry 100% Natural ingredients NSF Approved ceramic balls. Size: 10”x 5”x 5” Weight: 1lb 2oz

How they are used:
You put these Super Wash Balls into your washer (its better to soak them for appx 30 min if you have the chance and wash in warm) in place of detergent and wash as usual. Yes, that’s it. If something’s super dingy you can add a little baking soda.

So, they arrived and sat here, and sat here. My Mr. kept asking when I was going to try them out (the whole 3 years of not buying my fave detergent was an idea that he approved of, big time) and I kept having excuses until I got to the end of my favorite orange bottle…and at that point I just had to give them a shot-how else was I going to write a review and give one of you the chance to have your own Super Wash Balls, right?

The first load washed, and as soon as they were through, I smelled them and they smelled like nothing. I figured that might be a fluke-its not like it was a dingy load, so I looked for a more challenging load (and I found it!) and washed them also. When they were finished washing I smelled them and the same thing happened-I smelled nothing! Now I was kind of getting into it and it ended up with me washing all of the dirty clothes and linens that I could find in the house-because honestly, I am a sniffer and I can smell everything, so I was looking for that ‘off scent’ on anything, and did NOT find it on one piece of clothing. I kid you not.

Listen, I really tried these out because I thought you guys would be interested in the chance of winning a set-I know a lot of you have kids with detergent sensitivity, etc., but I had full intentions of moving on back to my orange bottle after my little ‘testing phase’ was over. Didn’t happen. I am still using the Super Wash Balls and don’t plan on stopping. I am shocked that these two balls not only wash my clothes, soften them, get stains out-but they also made some of my kids’ older glitter shirts that had lost their luster glittery again. I’m thinking that they must have washed old residue or something off of the glittery shirts because they went from home shirts to, “Sure, you can wear that to school” shirts-something I truly did not expect. Put it this way, my daughter got a severely bloody nose at her BJJ class and the teacher wiped some of it with those bleach wipes but there was really too much to wipe so he advised me to bleach it at home. When I washed it and the shirt she was wearing under it that also got quite a bit of blood on it, I used nothing but the Super Wash Balls-why not, right? Well, 95% of all of the blood came right out-the other 5% that was left only showed up where it had been rubbed with the wipey. I’ve washed it again and now there is just the faintest stain, again where the teach rubbed it, and no where else-and I’m sure it’s on its way out. The t-shirt that the teacher didn’t treat got 100% clean on the first run. I’m not sure even my tried and true orange fave could have gotten the blood out this good!!

I suggest you get a set for your home-read more about them on their web site and decide for yourself. Because I do not buy detergent anymore, I get to buy the more expensive dryer sheets-which I only use to add that scent that my family is used to -the balls naturally soften fabrics. These Super Wash Balls are fantastic and I would surely consider them for a newly wed couple or baby shower gift-or how about for your graduate going off to college next year?

Now here’s your chance to win a set for your home for free!!

Disclosure: We were given a copy of this book to review free of charge, which does not affect our opinion of this book. There was no compensation for our review and we were not asked to show favor, etc. for this product.

(ARA) - Spring cleaning has become a ritual in homes across America. But as families focus on decluttering closets and revitalizing their indoor spaces, many overlook simple, inexpensive outdoor projects that can give a home a real “facelift” and make it look and feel like new.

“Some homeowners shy away from outdoor projects because they think they’re difficult, time-consuming or expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Rust-Oleum home improvement expert and PaintIdeas.com blogger, Angie. “There are some easy, inexpensive projects that can enhance a family’s enjoyment of their outdoor space and significantly improve their home’s curb appeal so it makes a welcoming first impression for neighbors and friends.”

* Clean the exterior. It may seem basic, but it’s amazing how much better, and how much newer a home can look after a good cleaning. And with the availability of cleaners that can be applied with pump sprayers and hose mount applicators, it’s never been easier to give a house a “facelift” without power washing or costly repainting.

If your house is wearing a coat of mold, mildew, dirt and grime, try a cleaner like Jomax House Cleaner and Mildew Killer. It removes the most stubborn stains without scrubbing and is safe to use near plants, grass and shrubs.

* Refresh the driveway. Sealing an asphalt driveway was once considered a messy, smelly and time consuming project, but that’s changed. Thanks to the evolution of new water-based technologies, restoring a driveway to its “like new” appearance is easy for even inexperienced do-it-yourselfers. Epoxyshield Blacktop Coating, with its advanced acrylic formula, brings asphalt back to its original jet black color and makes it look brand new again.

* Spruce up your deck. During the warm spring and summer months, many families spend more time on their deck than in the living room. But both wood and composite decks need to be cleaned regularly to prevent deterioration and look their best. Biodegradable deck cleaners like Wolman DeckBrite excel at removing ground-in dirt and mildew stains without whitening or damaging the surface like chlorine bleach can - and they’re easy to use.

* “Upcycle” your outdoor furniture. Has your outdoor furniture seen better days? Don’t replace it, “upcycle.” You’d be surprised how easy and inexpensive it is to refurbish patio furniture with just a few cans of spray paint. Today’s spray paints come in a full palette of colors - and exciting new textures and finishes - so you can personalize your outdoor space while saving your old furniture from the landfill. Try Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint in Hammered Copper to give your patio furniture urban style while hiding dents and scratches. Or, “dress” it in a classic color like Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X Espresso. One can of 2X delivers twice the coverage so the paint goes further and projects get done faster.

For more project ideas and product information, visit www.rustoleum.com. Or, get inspired by Angie’s newest spring projects at www.paintideas.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Spring is a time of new beginnings. Flowers and plants are blooming, the sun is shining and the weather is finally getting warmer after winter’s chill. So why not bring some of spring’s beauty into your home so you can enjoy it day after day?

“Some people think they have to purchase new accessories to refresh their home for spring. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Christine Silverman, director of small project paints for Rust-Oleum. “There are some easy, affordable ways to bring spring into your home by ‘upcycling’ the things you already have. These simple projects are fun ways to give a new beginning to the things you have sitting in the garage or basement, while keeping them out of the land fill. It’s a win-win for both you and Mother Nature.”

Bring your flower garden indoors
A great way to perk up a home for spring is by decorating rooms where you spend the most time - like the living or family room or kitchen - with flowers. By spray painting flower pots you already own bright yellow, purple or green and grouping them into indoor “gardens,” you will give them new life, while bringing the great outdoors inside. Consider using Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X, a fast-drying spray paint that works well on wood, wicker, metal, plaster or unglazed ceramic and resists chipping and fading. Or, place your “new” pottery on wrought iron plant stands or pedestal tables painted in coordinating colors to add a burst of color to any room.

Winds of change
Adding color to a ceiling or oscillating fan is a great way to add a pop of color in an unexpected way. Rediscover a fan you have stored in the attic. Or find a good deal on a fan that compliments your personality at a flea market or discount store and bring it home for a facelift. Covering the fan in just one coat of inexpensive spray paint in a fresh spring color will create a conversation piece that will last throughout the year. For this project, try using Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint. Its unique trigger spray makes it easy to use at any angle and it can be used on any surface - plastic, metal, wood and more.

Bring the outdoor patio furniture inside
Remember the old wicker chair and loveseat you picked up at Aunt Ida’s garage sale? They’re not just for outside. Spray paint them with one coat of Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X with Advanced Double Cover Technology in a bright spring color like Aqua or Green Apple and suddenly you have new seating that is perfect for your sunroom, front porch or foyer.

Restore and renew flea market finds
Flea markets are full of treasures that sometimes just need a little TLC to give them new life. Save that dingy chandelier, tarnished lamp or outdated bookcase from the trash by restoring it with a fresh coat of spray paint, which is sometimes all that is needed to turn garage sale or flea market finds into treasures.

For hundreds of easy project ideas to help you decorate and transform your home, visit www.paintideas.com. Before you know it you’ll have splashes of sunshine, spring color and great conversation pieces throughout your home without spending much time or money. Say goodbye to the winter blues and hello to some springtime cheer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Luckily there is an additional alternative that you may not have heard of…PAINTLESS design! PAINTLESS design wall coverings are easy to apply vinyl wall decals that combine low cost, easy application and no mess to give you an “as temporary as you need it to be” decor makeover. PAINTLESS design wall coverings are great for both, those who rent and those who own their home, because they are removable. This means you do not have to say “No” when your daughter wants bright pink poodles on her walls, or your son asks to decorate his walls in skulls (or vice versa).

So the fabulous group at PAINTLESS design let us try out a few of their decals so we could come back and tell you our honest thoughts in this spring home makeover review. Honestly, we loved them! I’ll admit, the first wall decal that we put up was a little slow going (thanks to our OCD), but after that, we were home free.

The instructions are well explained, and each package included an applicator that’s just like a credit card and it is for smoothing the decal to the surface of your wall. They apply really well (and we tried them on mildly bumpy walls) and the vinyl is a very nice quality. The colors are nice and vivid and we found the decals to be larger than we expected (we liked that).
What we found especially different about this company was that they give you the option of ordering custom designs! That’s a great idea when you can’t find the exact design you’re looking for. They also have the option of ordering names, baby block letters and all sorts of custom options to help you make all of your spaces personal.




From the kids that got to use them in their room and playroom:

“I got the pink butterflies and it makes me feel like butterflies are all around me. My mom let me pick where they were going to go.”

“I love my black circles on the walls but my mom also put some on my floor for me because I love the “Toon Portal Holes” in Roger Rabbit and now I have my own ‘Toon Holes’!”

In just an afternoon, you can update your living spaces to make them more inviting, more vivid, more personal-more you! Take some time to check out PAINTLESS design and see for your self how easy it is to make a big change in your home!

About the company:

Web address: http://www.paintlessdesign.com

Disclosure: as mentioned above, we received some designs to sample and try out. There was no monetary compensation for our review and this review is based on our experience with the product.