LeapFrog Learning Systems - Tag.Give.Read & DonorsChoose.org

Those of you that know me, know that I love (almost) all LeapFrog products. My first choice for my kids is that they play with non-electronic toys. I like blocks, creative play, paper and crayons - you know, the "when I was a kid" toys. However, if they are going to play with electronics and toys that interact with them, then they must be toys in which I can find some educational value. When the girls were little, I got them Tag Readers. They loved them. They liked being independent enough to read by themselves. They enjoyed the games that were built into the stories. I liked that the games tested their reading comprehension and taught them new words. It was a win-win situation. As they got a little older I got the girls a Leapster. While I was not as satisfied with that product overall (Grainy images, a lack of quality games that fit our needs, and a difficult interaction with customer service left me a bit jaded), I do think that for us it was better than a Nintendo DS. In addition, a recent brief encounter with the new Explorer has me optimistic that LeapFrog might be on the right track again with this new product.

In addition to liking LeapFrog products, I also appreciate a company that tries to give back to the community. It is great to manufacture products that can help our children succeed in the classroom, but what good is it if the products can't find their way into the hands of the children that need them most. According to LeapFrog.com

"Last year LeapFrog donated $1.5 million in Tag School Reading Systems and books to the classrooms of more than 10,000 U.S. Kindergartners. By the end of the school year, 99% of the teachers in the program said they would recommend Tag to other teachers and to parents, because their students became more enthusiastic readers and exhibited improved reading skills after working with Tag systems."

While that is a step in the right direction, LeapFrog is doing even more.  Through the Tag.Give.Read program and DonorsChoose.org, they will match donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000 to get Tag Readers into the classrooms of teachers that want them.  (Not to sound like an ingrate, but I'd personally like to see them give a bit more, perhaps even to programs on donorschoose.org that aren't promoting their specific products.  In fact, they may already do this.  I haven't done any additional research into LeapFrog  to see what their entire donation portfolio consists of.)

The best thing about the Tag.Give.Read program for me is that it introduced me to DonorsChoose.org.  Why haven't I heard of this site before?  From the website -

"Here's how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.
Then, you can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, we deliver the materials to the school.
You'll get photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. If you give over $100, you'll also receive hand-written thank-you letters from the students.
At DonorsChoose.org, you can give as little as $1 and get the same level of choice, transparency, and feedback that is traditionally reserved for someone who gives millions. We call it citizen philanthropy."

The former teacher in me just LOVES this idea.  I've actually been browsing the site for the past couple of days trying to find a specific science project that I'd like to donate to.

*Disclaimer - I was initially inspired to write this post in order to get extra entries into a giveaway hosted by Life in a House of Blues.  However, after a bit of browsing, I would have written it anyway.  Information came from leapfrog.com and donorschoose.org.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Momma Needs a New Pair of Shoes

I don't know about you, but I could always use a new pair of shoes.  I entered for some cute ones at Just Another Review Blog.  Check it out for your chance to win as well.  Hurry though, the winner is selected tomorrow!

What is your worst table manners mishap?

I don't know about the rest of you, but table manners mishaps abound in our house.  Our worst mishap was probably one Thanksgiving at my in-laws when someone unknowingly gave Pumpkin baked beans.  Pumpkin hates baked beans.  Now, Pumpkin and Peanut are both good at trying new things and even washing down food with a quick drink of water.   That wasn't always the case.    She took a taste, then immediately gagged all over her plate to the shock of the entire family.  It was pretty disgusting.

To be honest, I have no one to blame but myself for most of our mishaps.  (I don't even know how to properly set a table.)  My girls are exceptional with "please" and "thank you", but they are really messy.  Even at 4 and 6, I think half of their food ends up on the floor after every meal.  They don't throw their food (which is surprising since Doc loves to show off his ability to toss grapes, popcorn, etc into the air and catch it with his mouth), but they still have a hard time getting it in their mouths.  Maybe it all started when I used to take pictures of the girls all messy after a meal as babies.

Isn't a spaghetti covered face (and socks) just adorable though?!

Maybe I started letting them feed themselves (and each other) too early?

Regardless of the cause, we need help with our table manners, which is why I'll be at the Barber Foods Table Manners Twitter Party tonight from 7:30-9:00pm ET.  If you have time, you should join us.  There are even some great prizes you could win!

*Disclaimer - I am receiving extra entries into the prize pool for posting this information.

Coming Soon - Carmex Review and Giveaway

In an email that I recently received from Carmex, I saw that they were looking for bloggers that love their products to apply to be part of their Carmex Blog Squad.  Without high hopes (I'm obviously not one of the most popular bloggers out there), I applied.  Well, what do you know . . . . they picked me!  :o)

Yesterday in the mail I received a fun Carmex kit (ARV $52.32).

It is loaded with all sorts of goodies. There are the obvious lip products that I know and love so well. However, there are also two new products - Healing Lotion and Healing Cream.

It is my job over the next few weeks to try them out and let you all know what I think of them.  Fortunately (or not) with the weather getting cold, my hands are already getting dry, so it should definitely be a good test for these products. 

In about two(ish) weeks, I'll post my initial review and offer you all the opportunity to get your entries in to win a kit of your very own.  Then, when the giveaway ends and I announce the winner, I'll give you a review update - just in case my opinions have changed since the initial review.

Be on the lookout for the post so you don't miss your chance.  The best ways to stay in-the-know about what is going on here at MomOnTheEdge is to follow me on twitter, fan me on facebook, and follow me on google friend connect (on the sidebar).

*Disclaimer - Carmex sent me this kit in order to facilitate my honest review of their new product.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Wordless Wednesday - Missing the Sunny Summer Days

I was looking through some of my pictures and ran across this image of the girls on their first jet ski rides.  With the weather being gorgeous (but the water being cold), I'm missing the sunny summer days.

Seriously? Only 2 Comments?

I know that my blog isn't the most popular (or probably even in the top 1,000), but I have to say that I'm a little sad that I only got 2 comments on my CSNstores post asking if I should do a review or giveaway.  Oh well. On the upside, I placed my order for products to review.  Within the next couple of weeks you will see my review of CSNstores and the products I've ordered.

Cold & Flu Season 2010

I am a four seasons girl.  I love playing in puddles, watching flowers bloom, and planting my garden in the spring.  I love to swim, eat fresh veggies, and catch fireflies in the summer.  Fall brings the crunching of leaves, watching football, and the comfort of my favorite sweater.  Winter means ice skating and sledding followed by hot cocoa next to a warm fire.   The one season I could definitely do without, is cold and flu season. 

As soon as the girls head back to school in the fall, I know that cold and flu season is right around the corner.  It starts with a tiny sniffle or a scratchy throat . . . and works its way around everyone in the school (and my house!)  We do what we can to avoid the sniffles and coughs, though so far they seem almost unavoidable.  We have been able to avoid the flu so far though.  (Where's some wood? . . . knock, knock, knock).

Here's what we have done, and will continue to do (until it stops working for us):

• Wash our hands - I am pretty diligent about requiring the girls to wash their hands before eating, after sneezing, or whenever we come in from being out and about around other people.  
• Cough and Sneeze into our elbows - It is as simple as it sounds.  By not catching sneezes and coughs with our hands we are less likely to spread them to others. 
• Keep your hands off your face - Your face has too many mucous membranes.  We try to avoid giving the germs on our hands direct access to the rest of our bodies.
• Eat right and exercise - By making healthy choices and keeping our bodies in the best possible condition we like to think that we are at an advantage to fight off the germs that find their way in.
• Flu vaccination - While I don't like getting colds, I hate having the stomach flu.  By getting the flu vaccine every year (when we are healthy), we feel like we are just a bit more likely to avoid it.

In fact, according to the CDC:

• Everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended to be vaccinated against the flu.
• The flu vaccine provides protection that lasts through the flu season.
• The flu vaccine is updated each season to protect against the three flu viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness.
• You need to get the 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccine even if you got the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine last season.
• If you or your kids do not like shots, the flu vaccine is also available in mist form. For more information on this, ask your doctor or visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

No matter what you do to stay healthy during this cold and flu season, I hope it works for you and your family.  If you have any remedies or tips that you swear by, I'd love to hear them.  I'm always ready to research a new idea that might keep my own family healthier as well.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in a TwitterMoms blogging program for which I may receive a small thank you (valued at less than $20).” For more information on how you can participate, click here.  Information from this post came from TwitterMoms and the CDC.  Any information on this post that was not directly from TwitterMoms or the CDC is my own opinion.  I am not a doctor nor a scientist and therefore you should not take it as fact.

Wordless Wednesday - The Crunch of Fall Leaves

The Empty Gas Tank

Let me tell you just a little bit about us.

• We live in the middle of nowhere. 
• Gas stations are few are far between. 
• The gas stations we do have certainly aren't open 24 hours.  
  

All of those are the reasons why I try to make sure that I always have enough gas in the car I drive most often.  Which makes me wonder . . . Why is it that when I got in the car today to take Peanut to school, the low fuel level light popped on almost instantly?

The answer to that question is - Doc and I don't have the same stance on gas.  Doc is a man of efficiency.  He doesn't like to take time out to get gas until he is on empty.  I like to fill up any time I'm near Kroger (to get $0.20 off per gallon) or anytime the needle hits (or is close to) the 1/4 line.  You'd think after 10 years of marriage we would have come to an understanding on this matter.  We haven't.  Though I've fortunately never run out of gas.  He does make sure that there is enough to get to the nearest gas station.

To be fair, I'm sure I am still doing things he's asked me to stop doing (or not doing things he's asked me to do) for the past 10 years as well.  Why is it so hard to change our ways?

Gain's New Dishwashing Liquid - Review and WINNER

Wandering around Walmart last week, I finally remembered to pick up the new Gain Dishwashing Liquid in lavender.  When I found it, I was thrilled that it was only $0.97.  At that price, just about everyone can go and try it even if you didn't win my giveaway.  So, now that I found it, bought it, and tried it, here's what I think:

Since I didn't really love the smell of the "original" Gain Dishwashing Liquid, I wasn't overly optimistic about the lavender scent either.  In fact, when I got home and opened the bottle to give it a sniff, I braced myself for disappointment.  To be fair, I am VERY scent sensitive.  I only like certain smells, and even smells I like can be too strong and offensive to me.   After the first sniff, I wasn't sold.  It smelled fine, but not great.  I  certainly didn't develop an immediate urge to wash any dishes.  Later that night, like it or not, I had to do the dishes.  (I can't stand having dishes sit in a sink overnight.)  I turned the water to hot, let it run, and squeezed a bit of the lavender Gain into the flowing water.  I was very happy with the quantity and quality of the bubbles that filled my sink.  Additionally, I was also pleased with the smell.  It was fresh, relaxing, and quite enjoyable.   The scent wasn't at all overpowering, but it was definitely strong enough to appreciate.  I don't know what it was about adding it to the water that made it smell better, but it definitely is a more pleasant smell than I got from sniffing the liquid in the bottle alone.

After a week, I still enjoy the smell of Gain's New Dishwashing Liquid in lavender.  In fact, I enjoy it enough that it has been added to my approved list of dish soaps, which is not an easy feat.   Priced well, with bountiful bubbles, and a pleasant aroma, I definitely recommend that you try Gain's New Dishwashing Liquid.  While I like the Lavender, you might just like it in the Original, Apple Mango Tango, or Citrus Splash.

Now Shirley, who likes me on facebook, has the opportunity to try it for herself.  She can even try it while wearing her new purple Gain shirt.  Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: This product review was based on using complimentary Gain product provided by P&G through MyBlogSpark. Bloggers also received Walmart gift cards and T-shirts to share with their friends at their discretion. P&G does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blog site.