Black Friday Deals

Yes, I know that today is only Tuesday and Black Friday is on Friday ... but this is your guide and is early so that you can look through things without having to take time out of your family holiday. I will NOT be posting any Thursday deals. That isn't how I work. While I will be working on Thanksgiving, it is because I am CHOOSING to keep drunks off the road following an event. This is not a mandatory thing. I just want life to be a little bit safer and everyone is able to get home to their families for the holidays. With that said ... Here you go!

Click the graphic to go straight to the deal!

BLOGGERS - Pay attention! There is an AWESOME deal coming Friday and you will want to take part. If you are looking at going to your first conference or your 30th, the Type-A Con should be on that list. It is being held in Atlanta, GA again this year and will be in October. I attended Type-A Con 2014 as my first conference and I suffer from severe anxiety. I can tell you that they make everyone feel SUPER comfortable AND there are plenty of ways to destress. I WILL be going again in 2015!

Use code BLACKFRIDAY at http://typeaparent.com/affiliates?ap_id=HBRedbird to save 30% on your Type-A Parent Conference annual pass starting at midnight EST on Friday. Type-A Parent 7th Annual Conference will be held in Atlanta October 8-10. Type-A Parent offers top notch learning and networking with some of the world's smart bloggers and most beloved brands. Find out more and get your pass at http://typeaparent.com/affiliates?ap_id=HBRedbird

Order on my site!

Get your Mary Kay at a GREAT price on FRIDAY ONLY! When you place an order on my site, it will time stamp it on my email. This will determine your discount. I will then send you an invoice via PayPal that you can pay with your credit card WITHOUT having to give me your information!!! You will see the discount applied on the PayPal invoice. If you have ANY questions on how it works ... please ask me! You will want to remember to add 8.77% Sales Tax & $9.35 for shipping & handling. Limited Edition items are selling out wicked fast so I STRONGLY suggest you order as early as possible because I will try to place as they come in! If something is sold out, I will ask you if you would like a replacement item or your money back.

Other Specials Going on FRIDAY ONLY!

Free shipping from The Land of Nod

Receive free parcel shipping PLUS 15% Off your order at The Land of Nod from 11/27 – 12/1 for a Black Friday/Cyber Monday super sale!

Awesome Deals at Tea

Styles $12, $15 and $17 for Girl, Boy, and Baby

Get Personal with ISeeMe books!

Free Personalization ON Any Toy Now At MelissaAndDoug.com! No Code Needed!Groupon DEALS!
http://www.groupon.com/occasion/doorbusters?elq=62c925e496a34c3896b132ff3c4a2bdc&elqCampaignId=771

Back to School Bash

Well, the party was designed to be for moms celebrating their kids going back to school. However, I wanted to get a group of friends together who no longer go to school together and have some fun! I am SO glad I decided to change the tactics.

*Disclosure - This party was sponsored by Fruit of the Loom. I was given a party pack through House Party with coupons and decorations, as well as party ideas. I was not expected to blog about the party, nor was I promised money for a good review. All opinions are my own!*

My husband and I were so excited when we found out that Peanut would be starting school right before the first of August. We counted down the days when our routines would be starting again. Shortly after she started, we received the letter we had been waiting for ALL summer ... Monkey had been accepted into the school district's preschool program. They only accept a few three year olds so we kept hoping. The kids going back to school has been the BEST thing for our sleep schedule and sanity.

When our kids go back to school, we go through ALL their clothing (another blog post coming on that) and figure out what we need to purchase. One of my favorite brands for clothing is Fruit of the Looms. No, I am not just saying that because they gave me a party pack. Actually, I asked to host this party BECAUSE of my love for the product. A bonus was the coupons they included in the pack for me to get new underroos for my babies.

Moving on to the party. As a host, I was given a shirt to wear celebrating the joy I feel about my children returning to school!

Fruit of the Loom gave us an AWESOME welcome sign to hang, and it drew attention from many because the letters were on underpants. My kids thought it was downright hilarious. Monkey just said, "They used my school pull-ups too" ... not exactly but she was getting in on the Back to School fun!

In addition to the hanging decorations, we were provided with a very fun game! Pin the Kid on the bus. We used my sleep mask as the blindfold ... which was hilarious on the toddlers' small heads!

However, before we started the game, I decided to let the kids have just a tad bit of fun. We put Pharrell Williams on YouTube and let the kids dance to "Happy."

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

The girls really got into it!

Of course, what is a party without cake and punch. Our cake was a homemade marble cake (yellow & chocolate) with homemade buttercream frosting. Our punch was the highly desired Tang. It MIGHT have been the kids favorite part.

So, overall ... I think we had a successful party.

How did you celebrate school re-starting?

Where has the time gone?

My 11 year old daughter loves to look pretty, just like her mommy. It gives her a boost of confidence and she walks a little taller.  Many people have told me that I need to stop aging her so fast, but I think that allowing her the ability to feel good about herself is something that all girls need. We allow her to say "I did great," or "I look good today." I think it is important for the self-esteem, and as long as it isn't all the time, I don't think ti is going to make her full of herself.


When I started my Mary Kay business, I did it because I loved the make up. I knew that Adella had a great fondness for it, but I didn't realize how strong it was until I actually became a consultant. Today, she asked me to go on a mommy/daughter date with her. It has been several weeks since I have truly had the time. I had errands to run tonight anyway, and said sure. We got our makeup done and it just made us realize that our daughter is really 11 years old!

Tonight we chatted about girl stuff, but after dinner, we got into discussions on our future dreams. I told her that my dream is to have Redbird Empire be a very strong company. I would love to be based out of San Diego in 10 years, and I asked her how she felt about that. We had a long discussion about why I didn't ask her approval or whether she wanted to go. It is after she moves out of the house, so it is not a family decision she will get to make. That is when we started talking about her dreams. I knew that she has wanted to go to Sumner High School and then on to K-State to the College of Engineering, but I didn't realize some of the other things she wanted to do.

She asked me tonight if I would be her director when she starts Mary Kay ... and if she could start Mary Kay when she is 18. It is awesome to know that when you love something, and you feel so strongly about them, that it is clearly visible to others. It was nice tonight to have some time away and just chat ... but it was also nice to be able to gain a little more insight on how much my daughter has changed and grown in the last 11 years.

Family Entertainment at a Discount!

With the weather being nice outside, you may not think about it when it is in the 90s or when it is snowing. However, when the weather goes to pots, it is time to try to entertain the kids inside. Thankfully, there are a few locations around the KC Metro that you can take them so your sanity remains intact and your children enjoy themselves.

One of these locations is Cool Crest in Independence, MO.

Cool Crest Family Entertainment Center offers Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, Batting Cages, and an Arcade. Even the parents can relax and have some fun creating memories with the kids.

Only pay for the things you want to do, so you do not lose any money! Check out some of the exclusive coupon savings available from Cool Crest.

*This post is not currently sponsored.*

Lock up your guns!

As a parent, you are constantly worried about keeping your children safe. You make sure the smoke detectors work, you put up baby gates, and you take care to make sure they are not exposed to vile things on the internet. However, 1.4 million homes in the United States contained guns that are not locked up or protected in any way.

According to a study released at the beginning of May, in North Carolina alone, pediatricians found that 99% of families made sure they had a working smoke detector in the home but only 57% of families ensured their guns were locked away.


Let's think of the items you make sure you lock up:

• Chemicals
• Art Supplies
• Make-up
• Alcohol
• Matches/Lighters
• Adult toys
• Knives
• Tools

So, why aren't your guns on there as well?

Gun accidents are preventable. Children and teens are curious. They want to know how things work, and they often think we won't answer their questions. A basic gun safety course is beneficial, just as making sure your child knows they can always ask questions. However, you want to take into consideration that they may not listen or ask. Just because you want to protect yourself in your own home from burglars does not mean that you should not think about protecting your children. Get involved!

When you place your gun in a drawer, you need to use a lock and store your ammo ELSEWHERE. For your benefit, here are some wonderful gun locks available on Amazon!

   

Kicking the Summer Blues ... with Books

I have to be honest. My favorite time of day with my kids is when the younger two are napping and the older two are reading. It is quiet and peaceful ... not something I get to experience much with 4 little ones in the house. It isn't that my children fight a lot ... it is more that they get bored and then get into mischief. That compounds with the fighting. I know I am not alone with the summer blues, and people counting down until school starts. Some days are worse than others, but the two hours of peace I get during the day recharges me and reminds me of why I love them so much.

Source - Raul Lieberwirth

The biggest problem I have is keeping up with their reading tastes and what reading level they are at. With Peanut ready for Young Adult, I have to carefully monitor to make sure she is not reading Sookie Stackhouse, even though she likes vampire books! S, what is my 11 year old into right now? Harry Potter and Percy Jackson are high on the list. She is also interested in starting the Lord of the Rings! I could not be prouder of her, especially since she has come such a long way in the last five years of reading.

      

Bullfrog is all over the place though when it comes to reading. He loves books that do not challenge him much, but he also loves non-fiction books. If it has anything to do with zombies, werewolves, animals, or little boy humor ... he is sold! His favorite series of all time is the Magic School Bus.

      
The younger two (Monkey & Turtle) love anything with pictures, although Monkey likes books she can count. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has quickly become a favorite in the house. She also loves her Minnie Mouse and Winnie Pooh books. Turtle is non-judgmental. She will pick up a book and let you read it to her. However, she is a huge fan of Dr. Seuss books

   
So, now I ask you since I am always looking for good books to add to our library ... what are good books for the following reading levels:

• 8th Grade
• 5th Grade
• Preschool
• Age 2

Next question ... what are some good books for ADULTS who like fantasy fiction. I have fallen in love with series books and that is what I would like to stick with. I am starting the Game of Thrones, but after that ... I need to know what are some series you have loved. Let me know in the comments below!

Teaching Preschoolers - Easy as A-B-C

*Note - This blog post contains affiliate links, however all opinions expressed are my own.*

Your child's mind is very impressionable and they learn at a very rapid pace when they are young. It is vital to start reading to them young, and studies have even shown that playing classical music while they are in the womb will help the brain grow. It can go unsaid that this makes starting preschool by age three important.

ABC Mouse is an online teaching program that goes in steps, from preschool to Kindergarten in Six Levels of Learning Fun! There is also a Toddler Time for children not quite ready for preschool lessons.

ABC Mouse is one of the best learning programs available and it has over 3000 lessons so your child will never get bored. Just like school, there is curriculum for reading and math for preschool, pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten making this an excellent tool for homeschoolers!

With the Reading section, your child will learn their letters (both upper and lowercase), recognizing sounds, phonics, and word families. They will learn through books that are original and bring learning in a fun way. Your child will be able to follow along as they are read to, or turn the sound off and read the book without assistance.

Children are also given the opportunity to learn through art, songs, puzzles, and games. However, ABC Mouse offers printables so you can continue learning with your child AFTER they are off the computer.

Some of the other features included are:

• Lesson Builder
• Progress Tracking
• Reward System
• Interactive Zoo & Farm
• Record a Book

This program is NORMALLY just under $8/month or about $80/year … HOWEVER, you can get FOUR months of ABC Mouse for $19.95. That is 37-percent off the normal subscription! Simply click on the link below!

ABC Mouse for $19.95 (4-month subscription)

Father's Day

Today is a day that has a tendency to get pushed under the rug. Fathers just don't get as much credit as moms. I don't know that I really understand why. I am a stay at home mom, but my husband supports me, makes sure I can stay a SAHM, and work hard to be there for the kids activities.
I LOVE my father. He made sure I didn't give up and was there to correct and guide me. I was a daddy's girl, even when we didn't always get along. He helped me when things didn't go my way or I needed help. When I needed a shoulder to cry on because my friend had died, he was there. When I needed extra lessons on how to drive ... he was there.

Now that I am a parent, I want my children to love their father the same way I love mine. He does the best he can and wishes nothing more than give the world to his children. We all learn from mistakes, and I hope that we continue to grow, teaching our children along the way.

James - 2001

Adella - 2003

JJ - 2004

Chloe - 2013

Willow - 2013

Family Photo - 2014

How do you celebrate Father's Day? Do you believe that there is a lack of balance between Mother's Day and Father's Day? How does that make you feel?

New Heroes of the City

In March, I got the opportunity to talk about Heroes of the City and the app for both the iPhone and Android devices. I was approached again to talk about their new app, Heroes of the City Baby App.

If your child has not watched Heroes of the City yet, here is the affiliate link to the DVD from Amazon for your convenience. My children love to watch the videos and race the little cars around. The app I talked about in March is one of their favorites!


This app, designed for children 0 to 2+ years, teaches your youngest coloring, shapes, and music with various movies and games. You can watch movies with Paulie Police Car and Fiona Fire Engine.



Contents:
• 3 animated short movies (Languages: English and Swedish)
• Music panel with two different themes
• Color and shape games
• Magic coloring game
• Balloon Games
Everything in this app is free, child safe and without advertising. The app is entertaining, educational and inspires children to be creative. This app will be the first introduction to Heroes of the City and also for the children's first contact with tablets and other digital devices. Enjoy a great " My First App".

App Store:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/heroes-of-the-city-baby-app/id860084935?mt=8
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rutaett.HeroesBaby&hl=en

Crazy Weekend!

I am in the process of recuperating after a crazy weekend. Between the 21st and the 26th, we had 12 people come and go in our apartment and celebrated a graduation & an anniversary. We have put the house back in order and are looking at rearranging things to make it work better for us. However, I have some time to get everything caught up!

One of our guests who was here for several days was our niece. She is only a few days younger than Monkey, so we called her Twin #2. Outside of possessive problems and learning to share ... these three were thick as thieves!

Peanut and Bullfrog got their new glasses and they fit SO much better. They are also super cute.

Playing with toys at Mission Eye Care

Our biggest activity this past weekend was celebrating Monkey's graduation from elementary school. We had a Chinet party and it was a blast

So, now that we have put everything back in order, we are starting potty training actively. Our friend gave us the wonderful idea to do dum dums and stickers. We have decided to make a chart using Dora and a board game. Because of copyright issues, I cannot share it here. I do hope, if this works for us, to make one that you can tailor to your own needs. :)

Posts Coming Soon:
~ Mary Kay
~ Shakeology
~ Health Week
~ Baby Apps
~ Kid Apps

How did you celebrate Memorial Day weekend? Who were you remembering?

FamilyFun Magazine Sweepstakes

One of my favorite magazines is teaming up with Purex to offer an awesome sweepstakes. FamilyFun is a parenting magazine that is released by the creators of American Baby and Parents magazines. Right now you can get a two year subscription for less than $8! You can find articles on getting pregnant, being pregnant, babies, toddlers, children, parenting, and then everything in between.

In addition to the magazine, they have a Pinterest account, online site, Facebook account, and they are on Twitter. If you need ideas for parties, recipes, crafts to do with your kids, or some handy travel tips, this is the magazine to get. It is inexpensive and full of information that parents need.

It is stock full of information for child products to help you figure out the perfect products for your needs. With summer right around the corner, now is the time to get a subscription to the magazine. With the sweepstakes that Purex and FamilyFun is putting on, 15,000 people will receive a FREE subscription to the magazine!

The sweepstakes is active until May 30! You still have PLENTY of time to enter. However, don't wait too long … this is not one you want to miss. Click on the photo to enter.

Affiliate Link