Wordless Wednesday: Date with Daddy

Heelys: Review

BOY PARTY

Post 13

(Final Post)

Heelys is throwing a Labor Day/Back-to-School special!! Between Sept 2-Sept 5, Buy one pair of Heelys, get the second pair for only $30!

I don't care if your boy is 3 or 33.. he'd love some Heelys!  At least, I'm pretty sure he would.  Heelys are shoes with removable wheels that can be inserted into the heel of the sole.  They are great for getting boys active, or giving active boys an outlet for their need to move!  I recently got to try a pair of adult sized Heelys for myself.

My happy feet

BEFORE

Let me tell you the truth about Heelys.  I have seen them before.  They're not new.  If I remember correctly, the original style had a button on the side that popped the wheels out so the user could skate with them.  I thought they were dumb.  (Don't tell my kids I used that word).  I thought Heelys were a dangerous waste of money, a ploy to get kids to buy a new pair of shoes.  I thought they were a nuisance to the public and should be, in general, avoided.

MY TRIAL

I am pregnant.  I have flat feet and when you add in pregnancy, I have FAT flat feet.  Tennis shoes are NOT comfortable.  During my last 2 pregnancies I have worn sandals for 90% of the time.  You know what I've discovered about Heelys?  Because they are a skater-style shoes, they are comfortable on fat, flat feet!  I have worn them on a couple of adventures, including a 2 hour trip to the zoo with my boys.

Not a recommended use!

MY THOUGHTS

1) Heelys are not overpriced.  When compared with other name brand shoes, they stack up nicely.  They make a great quality shoe that I believe will last me at least a couple of years.  

2) Heelys offer a great variety of styles.  I really wanted some cute purple shoes, but they weren't an option for me at this point.  They offer some "girly" options, and some that are much more boyish.  I chose a neutral shoe for my adventures and I think they're great with shorts or jeans.

3) Safety - Heelys are just as safe as any other skate when used correctly.  (Heelys does recommend that the wheel not be inserted into the shoe if you are pregnant).

4) Heelys are not a nuisance, but some people who wear them are.  Children should be given instructions about appropriate places to wear the wheels, wheels should be removed in crowded areas.

5) Newer construction - I like the removable wheel in the shoes.  It is easy to insert and to remove with the tool provided by Heelys.  

HEELYS LINKS

Heelys General Guide

General Heelys Skating Information

Heelys Safety Playbook

***Disclosure: I have received a product free for the purpose of this review.***

Wholesale Halloween Costumes: Review

BOY PARTY

Post 12

Do your boys love playing dress up as much as mine do?  Hrm, maybe it's not masculine to call it "playing dress up".  Monkey especially loves to pretend.  He's frequently Diego, saving trapped animals.  He loves animals too.  

With Halloween just over a month away, it's time to start thinking about costumes, and Wholesale Halloween Costumes offers excellent costumes at fantastic prices!

Crackers will not be a veterinarian any time soon if he keeps biting the animals.

We had the opportunity to try out Wholesale Halloween Costumes.  I was really impressed by the speed of their service, their vast selection of costumes, and the quality of the product we chose.  Monkey loved looking through the great toddler costumes with me and daydreaming about different characters, animals, and heroes that he could become.  

The hammer is not part of this costume and I'm afraid to know what my son is going to do with it.

We finally settled on the "Make a Wish Veterinarian" costume.  When it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the contents.  I had read the description, but did not remember how many things came with this.  Monkey was super excited to try it on.  He loved the animals and stethoscope the best.  We tried it out at dinner with some friends as well, their children loved the jacket and animal x-rays.  The "doctors" in our house give this costume a thumbs up for fun, as parents, we approve of the quality as well as the educational opportunities that come with playing the role of a veterinarian!  (Best of all, it is machine washable).

BUY IT

You can buy a Make a Wish Veterinarian costume for your child too.  At $19.30, it's a steal!  Make sure to check out the Wholesale Halloween Costumes website for your upcoming costume needs!  

Halloween is just over a month away!!!

Baby's Breath Designs: Review & Giveaway

BOY PARTY 

Post 11

I have to admit something.  I love blankets.  I always have, at least for as long as I remember.  My boys love blankets too.  In fact, Monkey and Crackers each have a special "magic" blanket that they sleep with every night.  I especially love blankets in the fall and winter.  I like to bundle up, and I love to bundle my boys and snuggle them.

Baby Crum is expected to arrive this fall.  It gets pretty stinkin' chilly in northern Indiana in the fall.  As I began preparing our home for baby, I went in search of the perfect stroller/carseat blanket to keep his little (or not so little) body warm on cool days.  

I found exactly what I was looking for in the Baby's Breath Designs shop! The sturdy cotton top will keep baby's heat inside, and the soft fuzzy underside will feel good against his tender baby skin.  I can't wait to bundle baby 3 in this sweet package!  

About the blanket

Baby's Breath Designs stroller blanket is a generous 29x41.  It will cover Baby well for a long time.  It has a very sturdy construction and washes well.  The bottom side is soft and fluffy, perfect for baby.  The stitching on the simple design is fantastic and makes me feel confident that we will be able to use this blanket for a long time.  They offer a generous number of fabric choices so you can customize your blanket (and other products) to suit your own tastes.  

About Baby's Breath Designs

The name "Baby's Breath Designs" comes from the owner's middle child, who has Cystic Fibrosis, a life shortening disease that effects the lungs.  She started by making things for her own children and has been able to turn that hobby into a small business, offering a wide variety of great quality products at affordable prices!

Check out some of Baby's Breath Designs other great customizable products right now!

Baby's Breath Designs has offered to give one of my readers a stroller blanket of their own!  Make sure to enter as many times as you can for your chance to win!

Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner: Review & Giveaway

BOY PARTY

POST 10

Boys are messy.  Have you noticed?  I sure have.  I love my messy boys, but NOT my messy house.

It is important to me to keep my boys safe while making my messy house a little more "mommy friendly.  I try to avoid harsh chemicals that could potentially harm my young children.  Oh and also - if you didn't know it - I'm pregnant, so I need to avoid a lot of those things anyway.  

Tropical Traditions offers a fantastic line of food products, health and beauty products, and EVEN home cleaning products.  I completely trust Tropical Traditions to produce safe cleaners for my family.  Recently I have had the opportunity to try their All Purpose Cleaner.  It claims to be safe for household appliances, windows, bathrooms, washing clothes, and EVEN dishes.  

TEST 1

The Microwave

I would show you before and after pictures of my microwave, but I would be completely embarrassed.  Let me put it this way: my microwave sits on a low shelf, so I don't see inside very often.  When I opened it up and looked around inside I was horrified to think that I had been cooking food for my boys in it!  I thought it would be an amazing first test for Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner.  After I pulled out and sprayed the glass tray, it wiped clean easily.  Next, I sprayed the inside of the microwave and let the cleaner sit for a couple of minutes (seriously, this was gross).  I came back to it and wiped it down really well.  The cleaner easily removed most of the mess.  

My biggest problem - figuring out whether to use a wet or dry rag while cleaning the  microwave.  The instructions on the bottle don't tell me.  I chose a wet rag, I think I should have gone with dry.

TEST 2

Dishes

I was already in the kitchen, and the bottle says it's safe to use on dishes.  I figured, why not give it a try.  I filled up my sink with hot water and some All Purpose Cleaner and washed a sink full of dishes.  My dishes did get clean and looked nice.  I just wish it would put them away next time as well.

My biggest problem - I couldn't get the cleaner to make suds in my water.  I like suds when I'm washing dishes, it makes me feel good about my soap.

TEST 3

The Bathroom

Again, I have 2 boys.  Monkey is 3 and potty trained.  He has figured out that some boys can potty standing up.  He hasn't figured out how that works, so when he tried, he generally stands on TOP of the toilet and lets loose.  This does not have pretty results.  Our toilet regularly needs cleaned - so does the floor - and the wall...  You get the picture.

My boys also have hands.  They like to put their hands in the dirt.  I am so glad that my boys like to be outside and get dirty - we spend almost every morning playing outside in the yard right now and they love it.  Unfortunately, dirt comes off on white walls, doors, cabinets, the sink, and the bath tub.  I actually found a ring in my tub for the first time this week - YUCK!

I sent daddy to the store with the boys for a little while and took some time to clean the bathroom.  I pulled out the Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner and went to town.  The bathtub ring was gone within moments, the walls and cabinets wiped clean with no problem.  The sink was a little bit harder because there's a tough spot in it that needed to soak in the cleaner a bit longer.  The toilet was simple to clean.

My biggest problem - The bathroom sink needed some extra time for the deep groove around the stopper.  Not a big deal, just took longer for that part than I expected.

TEST 4

The Mirror

While I was in the bathroom I thought I would try glass, I had not attempted to clean any glass yet and thought this seemed like a logical next step with the cleaner.  I sprayed down the mirror and wiped it.  The result?  I could see myself and there wasn't nastiness all over me!  I looked much better (although tired and pregnant).

My biggest problem - I used a rag to wipe the mirror off.  I should have grabbed a newspaper.  The rag left a few fuzzies on the mirror.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

I really like Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner.  I trust it around my boys (it's even sitting on the dining room table right now, within their reach).  I will use it again and again.  I am impressed by the true versatility of this cleaner.  My next challenge?  Laundry stains - I want to see what this stuff can do to some of Monkey's shirts.

College Prep

BOY PARTY

POST 8

Well, Monkey is 3 now and Crackers is 19 months.  I figure it's time that we start some college prep.  Here are a few photos of our recent college prep activities.

Music Appreciation

Organization

Physical Fitness

Okay - I have add a note in here... I have NO idea what he was trying to do.. I *think* he was trying to pull himself into the cube feet first, while balancing on the yellow car... this boy is seriously strong.

Healthy eating

Reproduction

Engineering

Coffee Consumption

Flirting

Shaving & hygiene

Art Appreciation

Stupid Human Tricks

Sneaky Reader

Boy Party 

Post 7

I told myself I was done for the night.  Then I discovered that Monkey was not in his bed asleep (as I had previously assumed).  He was laying in my bed.  I turned the corner into my room and he quickly pulled a book out from under the covers and stuck it on daddy's dresser - like I wouldn't notice he had been reading it.

He made me laugh - this is the book he was reading:

Now, how can you be annoyed with a 3 year old that wants to read in bed?  Especially when he's reading such advanced books!

(in)courage School Supplies: Review & Gift Code Giveaway

BOY PARTY

Post 4

My boys love paper, they love coloring and painting.  Monkey loves numbers, letters, and shapes - but he does not draw them yet.

This mama is getting ready to start preschool at home.  We'll be working on some of those pre-writing skills, as well as recognizing letters and numbers a little better.  (He knows a few).  I needed some place to organize my thoughts on what activities we will be doing throughout the year to work on these skills, as well as to feed his curious mind with other things that interest him.  He's 3, the world is a great place to explore.

As we are preparing to go "back to school" - I am blessed to be able to use the "God Recycles" & "Going Green" assortment from Dayspring.  Let me tell you why I am in love with this set.

1) There are two 3 ring binders for organizing our school materials.  We have some workbooks that Monkey will use, his pages will go into 1 binder.  My plans will go into the other binder.

2) The price is fantastic - currently $13.09 for the 6 piece set!  (2 binders, 2 folders, and 2 spiral notebooks)

3) Dayspring uses quality material.  My proof?  Before I got these put up, the 2 year old I babysit stood on one of the binders for a few minutes - it did not bend the binder and leave an ugly crease.

4) I love the simple reminders about God's love.

Why do these fit into my boy party?  First of all, the colors and simple designs are perfect for sending any boy back to school.  The reminder that he was created and the reminder to take care of the earth are fantastic things to send with your boy to school!

Another reason - paper.  My boys love to make all kinds of crazy projects with paper.  They love having a special place for coloring.  What mom doesn't want her boys to have the chance for creativity?

The Giveaway

The generous folks at Dayspring/(in)courage want to offer one of my reader (that could be you) a $35 gift code to be used toward any of their products.  With a minimum purchase of $35.  Shipping is not included.  The winner will be randomly selected on August 26.  

How to Enter

You may enter using any or all of the following methods.  Leave a comment below for each entry you complete.  Make sure to include your email address in each entry.

1) Visit the (in)courage page, tell me something you learned.

2) Window shop on Dayspring.  Tell me what you'd buy with your $35 gift code.

3) "Like" (in)courage on Facebook.

4.) "Like" Crum's This N That on Facebook.

5) Follow Crum's This N That via GFC (right hand sidebar).

6) Tell me your favorite boy name - leave it on THIS POST.

***Disclosure: I received a product or products free for the purpose of review to share with my readers on this post.***

Rubbermaid Glassware: Review & Giveaway

BOY PARTY

POST 3

"Really?  Rubbermaid is a boy product?"

Oh yes, if your boys like food as much as mine do, good storage is essential!

This is a fantastic 8 piece set.  The bowls come in 4 different sizes, the lids come in 2 sizes.  That helps me when I'm searching for what lid goes with what bowl.  There is no guessing about which brand of lid I have, or which size. Check out how nicely these nest!  I would tell you about how great they make my cabinets look - but HONESTLY - they have not made it into our cabinets yet.  We have used these repeatedly.

See how well they nest?  The lids even snap together tightly so that they can be secure in the cabinet (if yours make it there).  Because of the way the lids neatly fit the bottom of the bowl, they stack SO nicely in the fridge too!  They save space because of the way they stack and the shape.  The tops are square, so you don't lose area like you do with round storage containers.  Take a look at the top:

This one is filled with one of my boy's favorite treats, "fruit stuff".  

Another bonus of glass storage - you can refrigerate it, bake in it, microwave it, etc!  I tested each of these - we stored leftovers in the fridge.  We cooked ramen noodles in the microwave.  We baked lasagna in the oven.  These are fantastic!

Now, again - why are these "boy party" material?  Food food food.  My boys love to "help" in the kitchen.  Monkey was so excited when the FedEx man brought these that he quickly put all of his outside toys away so he could help make lunch.  We immediately went to the kitchen and cleaned the bowls so he could "cook".

With glass bowls I don't have to worry about what harmful chemicals could be in the materials.  I know that my family will be able to use them again and again and again.  They wash incredibly easily and I have no worry about stains.  Because of the way they fit together I'm not concerned about losing lids, thus needing to trash bowls. I'm keeping storage containers out of my trash, making my house a little greener, and filling the bellies in my home with foods I have made and trust!

The downfall?  A set of 4 bowls and 4 lids is about $25 (price varies at your favorite retailer). 

Summary:  I absolutely love these bowls and seriously looked into getting more to replace our current collection of plastic storage units.  However, the price prohibits us from doing this at the moment.  I would recommend these to anyone that is working on "greenifying" their house (yep, I just made that word up).  

The Giveaway

Rubbermaid has offered to send one of my readers their own 8 piece set (4 bowls, 4 lids).  This contest will end on Friday, August 26 at 11:59pm EST and is open to residents of the US and Canada.  

How to Enter

You may enter this giveaway using any or all of the following methods.  Please a separate comment for each entry you complete and make sure your email address is in each comment.

"Like" Rubbermaid on Facebook.

"Follow" Rubbermaid on Twitter.

Look at Rubbermaid's website and tell me another product you would like to try.

Read about Rubbermaid Glass with Easy Find Lids and tell me something else you learned.

Tell me your favorite boy name on THIS POST (leave a comment here telling me you did this).

Follow Crum's This N That via GFC (right hand column of this page).

Subscribe to Crum's This N That email newsfeed (upper right corner).

***I received a product free for the purpose of this review***

BOY PARTY!!!

Who's ready for a BOY PARTY?  

In celebration of baby boy #3 we will be hosting a BOY PARTY for the remainder of the month.  All of my reviews and giveaways have been hand selected to enhance life with BOYS!  These include cleaning supplies, diapers, natural healing, organization, preparing for preschool with boys, recreation and MORE! 

Join us as we celebrate our boys for the remainder of August!

Leave a comment on THIS post telling me your favorite boy name for an extra entry into any and all of our upcoming giveaways!