“Child’s birthday party” — just the phrase can cause panic for a busy mom like me. A few weeks ago, I was stressing out about what to do for my son’s 4th birthday. It was only two weeks away and I had not planned anything yet. My son loves the big inflatables and slides so I started researching the cost of having his party at one of those great bounce and play places. We had gone to a few different indoor bounce and play places and he always had so much fun. Well, I quickly realized that we would have to spend quite a bit of money to have one of those places host his party. Just like everyone in this economy, we are trying to cut costs as much as possible. But, I didn’t want to short-change my youngest son.
Well, luckily, a friend of mine told me about an East Valley Slide and Bounce company that offered the perfect solution. Slide and Bounce Around, Inc (www.SlideandBounce.com) will actually brings the bouncy or slide to you, sets it up, then comes back 4 hours later and takes it down! AND, their rates are incredibly reasonable! They have party packages starting at just $159!! That package includes your choice of a bouncy, a concession machine, and a game!! Other packages include dry and wet inflatable slides, tables and chairs, and other games.
We ordered a big slide, a popcorn concession machine, a spin art game, and a bubble machine for a great deal! We set up the bubble machine right outside the the slide exit and the kids were thrilled to slide into a bunch of bubbles! The spin art game was a huge hit — the kids could make beautiful art in about a minute! And, my older son had so much fun manning the popcorn concession stand! Everyone had a great time — and, we were able to stay within our budget!
If you are in the East Valley and are looking for a fun, unique, and inexpensive option for your child’s birthday, be sure to check out Slide and Bounce Around, Inc. at www.SlideandBounce.com or call them 480-507-5867.
Mention you heard about them from Mom’s Zone and they’ll even take $5 off your total!!
I love the idea of Pockets of Dreams. You can purchase quality clothes and handbags while helping others in need. The items are hand made by African Seamstresses which allows me the opportunity get wonderful items for me and my child while having the chance to give and help others who are helping themselves. As an African American woman, I am honored to help women in the motherland who are trying to end the cycle of poverty. It is inspiring that they make clothes for children throughout Africa as well including children going to schools in Uganda.
The clothing is very well made. The fabrics and buttons are high quality but nice enough for everyday use by children. The dress my daughter has is beautiful and she LOVES the matching purse and the pocket on the dress. The stitching is very precise and the dress fits to a tee. My daughter is very tall for her age so I may get a bigger size next time but the dress is very nice and she loves it. The pricing is a little high but since it is to help these amazing seamstresses it is well worth it especially for handmade one of a kind dresses and bags.
Disney On Ice and Feld Entertainment have done it again. Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy is a big hit and I had the opportunity to see it opening night so I can tell you all about it.
Anything Disney is great and add it to the ice and you have a great combination of entertainment. I have been to many Disney On Ice shows and I keep waiting for the day that I feel like I have seen them all. This show offered brilliant colors, mesmerizing costumes and such a wonderful display of professional ice skating.
Tinkerbell and the other Fairies
The Worlds of Fantasy fun is 4 different mini stories from Cars, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and the recent Tinkerbell movie . The characters we know and the stories we love are brought to a whole new dimension that my trying to describe it will never do it justice. Here is my vain attempt.
The shows begins with Minnie and Mickey and a really cute but broken down car. The gang from CARS arrive to help riding around much like a dance number, only for …cars. They are all so shiny and so cool to look at you just want to get in and take a spin yourself! After a really fun number with Mater, Lightning McQueen and the rest of the gang we move on to the tale of The Little Mermaid.
McQueen, Mater & Gang
Ariel is just as beautiful on ice as in the animated movie. The colors that shone brightly and the way the waves of the ocean were represented on ice was all so beautiful. The musical number, “Kiss the Girl” was fun to hear again and the little crab is just as funny as I remembered in the movie.
We then transitioned into the Lion King. This is such a magnificent number and I just could not get over how they made the wildebeest stampede look so real and so magnificent to watch. I have to be honest here when I say that I can’t watch the whole Lion King movie myself for this very part where Simba’s father is killed in the stampede. I almost wanted to cry again but was saved by the toddler near me who cheered with glee when the Lion was brought down.
Lion King
An almost 15 minute intermission later brought out the fairies from Pixie Hollow. What a fun way to depict this story. Again, the stunning array of colors and costumes and the way nature was portrayed was very magical indeed and kept a five year old’s attention.
I highly recommend seeing Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy. It is for all age groups and is great family entertainment. I suggest getting there early especially if you don’t already have your tickets. I got there at 6:30p, an hour before the show started, and it was minutes away from being sold out.
The Little Mermaid
Also, if you have a little princess or two at home, be sure to dress them up and get there for the Princess Pre-Show where they get to meet one of the Princesses. My seats happened to be WAY up at the very top (I kid you not) and yet it was still a beautiful show. That leads me to believe that there isn’t a bad seat to be had in the US Airways Center.
I was given the opportunity to review some clothes made by Pockets of Dreams. In case you were not aware, Pocket of Dreams gives away a new dress to an Ugandan girl or a grant to an Ugandan seamstress with your purchase. This is a company that is making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, a very worthwhile and noble effort. This company and its history tells its own story and its legacy will touch many in Uganda.
Katherine top and capris, Pockets of Dreams
This is the Katherine top and capris. The top is very versatile and can be used year round. You can wear long sleeves underneath it in the winter, and short sleeves in the spring, or wear it alone in the summer. Throw different colored tanks underneath for an ever changing look! You could also use a short little jacket over the top to change it up a bit if you want a more formal look. I loved the double flounce, the solid accent of the trim and the unique, colorful flower print, all of which make it extra girly!! Something I did note was that the straps are adjustable so your little girl can wear the top for a long time because there are three different sizes on the adjustable shoulder straps – it will grow as your child grows. There are even “secret” pockets underneath the top flounce. The top did seem to run a bit small in sizing so make a note of that for future purchases.
The capris are adorable. The material appears to be very durable, but soft and comfortable at the same time. I really liked the matching trim around the bottom of the capris and as if you could make it any sweeter, the embroidered pea pod on the bottom of the leg added just an little extra detail to the ensemble. The capris seems to run a little larger but they do have an adjustable elastic waistband to loosen or tighten as needed, in addition to the zipper and button flap. Both the top and the bottoms appeared to be of a very good quality and are uniquely designed.
Peapod Capris
I must admit that the clothes seem to be rather expensive, but I think that when you look at the overall agenda of the company, it may be worth the price knowing that you are helping a little girl in Uganda get something new too, or that you are helping a young woman get a sewing business off the ground. I think also that with the versatility of the top the price can be justified because it really is something that a little girl could wear year round for all occasions and the quality of the clothes speak for themselves.
This year our family did something we have never done before. We went to the North Pole! We got to see Santa’s workshop and visit with elves and help make toys. We had “Santa Soup” AKA hot chocolate with warm cookies, and after seeing the elves’ classroom and sleeping quarters we got to see Santa and get a picture made with him.
North Pole Experience
Now you might wonder how we made it all the way to the North Pole in a weekend. Well, it was actually quite easy. We drove to Greer, Arizona where there is a portal to the North Pole. Living in Phoenix and experiencing warm temperatures most months out of the year, it was a great break from it all and seeing snow for the first time my son thought it was the best time ever!
We learned about all of this by going to the North Pole Experience website. There we found out we could stay for a very reasonable price in a nice cabin at the Molly Butler Lodge and the price includes your dinner and breakfast.
North Pole Cabin
The cabins are comfortable, cozy and what we loved most was the space we had to run around and enjoy the snow. The game room was well supplied where everyone could enjoy a pool table, chess table, ping pong table and a foosball table. The all you can eat buffet dinner was delightful and we all got very full bellies enjoying the food! Our son is a picky eater and so you may want to be aware that while they do have a lot to choose from it might be a good idea to take a snack before the trip through the portal. Most nights I am told they have a kids’ area with chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese but the night we were there they did not have those available.
Be prepared for the cold weather by wearing a warm coat, gloves and scarf over your clothes or nighties. You get a lot of time for this experience. The time on your ticket for the tour is when you arrive at the Molly Butler Lodge to eat your dinner and you are given 45 minutes to eat. After your delicious meal you are then taken to the trolley to begin your experience and approximately an hour and half later you are brought back through the portal and to the Molly Butler Lodge where your children sit with Mrs. Claus to hear Christmas stories read, then color pictures for Santa and complete their wish list that is mailed right from the Lodge.
There truly has never been anything like it and our family will never forget our experience!
Here is an event that is sure to be inspirational to those who would like to look like Jillian Michaels as well as be healthy.
You can meet Jillian herself at the Sports Authority in Torrence, CA this Thursday, November 19.
Here is all the information you need to meet a Big Loser:
Event Information: Thursday, Nov. 19
Sports Authority store in Torrance (located at 3610 Torrance Blvd.), CA (just outside of Los Angeles, CA)
Event starts at 9:30 a.m. and runs until mid-day Event Highlights: · Jillian Michaels, from “The Biggest Loser,” will be in attendance. · There will be the “world’s largest Wii Fit Plus” demonstration featuring 102 people. Jillian will be part of the demonstration, doing what she does best – showing folks how to get in shape! · Lots of items to be given away, including copies of Jillian Michaels’ new Wii game “Fitness Ultimatum 2010″ and Wii Fit Plus boards, as well as other prizes from Sports Authority, Nintendo and Nike.
Stores will feature a dedicated area with a demo unit and knowledgeable trainers to help customers try the Wii Fit Plus. This will help moms trade static workouts for ones that involve fun and fitness for the whole family.
Would you like to win your very own copy of Jillian Michaels’ new fitness game for the Wii and a Wii Fit Plus board ? Then send in a comment letting us know what you would do if you met Jillian Michaels and then email info@momszone.org with your address and contact info. The winner will be announced in our weekly newsletter so be sure to sign up for our newsletter on our sister site homepage www.MomsZone.org.
I have had the opportunity to try out the new Frigidaire Affinity Washer and Dryer in my home for the last 9 weeks. I have to admit, that I am loving the washer and dryer more each day.
Frigidaire promises that by buying their Affinty collection of appliances you can save time. I have to say that my experience with the washer and dryer has made me a believer. I am not spending the time I was in getting everything set up each time because once you set up the cycles to run the way you want, you never have to do it again.
Saving money on detergent and fabric softener is really nice as well because I am finding that I am using a lot less of these products. The delicate chime that goes off when it is finished – on both the washer and dryer – is so very nice so I don’t have to keep checking to see if it is done. My last washer had that option but it was so loud and disturbing that I turned it off.
I really can’t find anything I don’t like about the Frigidaire washer and dryer. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about my blog if you are considering getting a new washer and/or dryer. It may sound a bit hard to believe but I really am happy with these beautiful red appliances!
Ladies, have you ever put much thought into the feminine products you use for “that time of the month”? I think I, like most women, have accepted what is on the shelf at the local convenience store and just tried different products until I found what would work. I would venture to guess that most women aren’t asking much of their feminine hygiene products other than to “take care of business”. If the product purchased can keep any embarrassing moments at bay, we are pretty much pleased as punch.
I have had the opportunity to not only learn more about the feminine napkin market but also had the chance to try out a product that is new to the United States from a company that really cares about women and their health. I was invited to a demonstration about Winalite’s Love Moon feminine napkins. How interesting can a talk about “pads” go, right? Have you wondered what your “pad” is made of? This is something that is extremely close to your most private of parts. How do you store your supply of pads? I hate to admit that I store mine in the bathroom. It is convenient and I can always know what kind of supply I have. You never want an embarrassing moment of need if you know what I mean.
If you happen to have feminine “issues” like urinary tract infections, does your current feminine product allow for air flow while keeping you dry? Can you be certain that your napkins have been made in a sterile environment and never touched by human hands?
Winalite’s Love Moon Anionic Sanitary Napkin is far superior than other feminine napkins on the market for the following reasons:
• Love Moon’s napkins are the only feminine napkins on the market that I know of that can claim a superior sanitary product. The napkin itself is made with strict standards and the packaging is so secure that you can leave it in the bathroom knowing it would be safe from all the germs exposed in that environment.
• Love Moon has made their napkins without bleaching and with sterile cottony soft materials. They feel like a pillow for your privates! The leading brands are made from recycled paper pulp which has been known to have high levels of lead, bacteria and microorganisms as well as abundant additives used during the re-processing stage such as industrial alkaline, bleaching powder, deodorizer, fluorescence agent and other chemicals.
• A base film which is permeable to air but not water.
• Adhesive base layer used for food products. This is good to know for those of us who have allergies to quite a few adhesives on the market.
• Negative ions courtesy of the anion strip in each pad.
Wondering what negative ions have to do with your feminine health? Well, I had never really heard about the effects of negative ions on our body. I remember vaguely discussing negative and positive ions in school and there was certainly no discussion of putting any of them in my feminine napkin! Winalite has really great information about how the effects of the anion strip’s negative ions can greatly benefit your health.
I was excited to try out this new innovative product. I mean, I was hoping to just “take care of business” a bit better than I had in the past with other products and that is about it. I listened to and was shown the effect of negative ions during the demonstration. One point stressed is that the negative ions has a different effect on each person and could have a detoxifying effect at first before you receive the real benefits of the anion strip. I was told that the Anion tape embedded in each sanitary pad may help to eradicate odor, reduce stress, strengthen immunity, enhance metabolism, remove fatigue and enhance hormonal balance.
I began my trial by using the panty liners. They were very nice and performed well. It seemed like a tiny pillow for my private area. The true test for me was when I used the day time as well as the nighttime super long and absorbent pads.
I have to say that using the Love Moon feminine napkin I had a great experience. Absorbency was much greater, the odor control was much better and I felt much better during this monthly “stay” than in months past.
Scientifically I can’t say after one month that I could point directly to the ion strip for a more pleasant period experience. I just never thought I would ever say the words, “pleasant period experience” so that is my own proof!
If you use feminine napkins and would like to get greener, cleaner, healthier or experience superior quality, then you will want to try these napkins for yourself. I encourage you to see the short demonstration where you will hear bountiful information and have the opportunity to ask a lot of questions and stay as long as you want to find out more about feminine health.
I have had my Frigidaire Affinity front loading Washer and Dryer for close to six weeks now. I have read all the paper work and have set the washer and dryer settings to my liking. I have tried those settings out more than a few times now. So, I bet you are wondering if I am still in the honeymoon phase, right?
I am still in love with the new time saving and eco-friendly washer and dryer. I did have to change a few ways of washing clothes since I have had a top loading washer all of my life. For instance, I used to use a partial liquid and partial powder detergent ratio in my wash. I did this because the liquid washed well but I felt the results from adding a little powder detergent got more stains and dirt out. With front loading washers, you are instructed to only use liquid or only use powder detergent as using the two together would result in a caked up mess in the detergent reservoir.
I find that just one of the many features about the Frigidaire Affinity front loading washing machine is that it is provides more agitating force so I don’t need to use powder detergent to get the same results. I also don’t use the same amount of detergent. It appears and says in the paperwork that it doesn’t need as much water to wash a load as well. In every aspect that I can tell it is saving me money to wash with this machine.
I wanted to share with all my blogging friends a small video I made showing you the new additions to my home. Watch the two and half minute video to see just a couple of reasons why I love the new washer and dryer so much. Stayed tuned when I will tell you more about the dryer, the time saving settings and more features that I just love!
I am sure I am not the only Mom who has felt the pain and cringed. Anyone who has children that have hand-held electronics can relate to the pain of watching a $125 toy drop on a hard tile floor with a resounding crash. You cringe as your child picks it up to see if the screen still glows brightly with Mario or Pokemon. If it does, you feel lucky — but, you know your luck will run out eventually.
Well, having had too many of these moments, I was thrilled to find a product that can actually help protect my son’s Nintendo DS from these accidents. And, not only can it help protect his DS, it looks pretty darn cool too! The Transformers armor and full-size iconic stylus come in two fun styles, Megatron and Bumblebee. My son loved the Megatron Armor, while a girl friend of his really liked the the bright yellow Bumblebee Armor.
Transformers Bumblebee Armor and Stylus
Both kids loved how cool the armors looked. They also loved the stylus’ — but, they had a bit of a difficult time keeping track of the stylus’ because it didn’t fit in normal space for stylus’. Luckily, we’ve still got both stylus’!
The armor also came with a compartment where the kids could store two games. This was great because that allowed them to carry three games at a time — two stored in the compartment and one they were playing. The compartment for games also had grip pads on the bottom so if the DS was set on the table for playing, it would not move. These grip pads also served to help keep the DS in place if it gets bumped.
So, who could not love this product — it helps protect your DS, the pads on the bottom help keep it from slipping, and, most importantly, it is super cool!! Be sure to check out the Transformers armor and full-size iconic stylustoday — before YOUR luck runs out!
“Child’s birthday party” — just the phrase can cause panic for a busy mom like me. A few weeks ago, I was stressing out about what to do for my son’s 4th birthday. It was only two weeks away and I had not planned anything yet. My son loves the big inflatables and slides so I started researching the cost of having his party at one of those great bounce and play places. We had gone to a few different indoor bounce and play places and he always had so much fun. Well, I quickly realized that we would have to spend quite a bit of money to have one of those places host his party. Just like everyone in this economy, we are trying to cut costs as much as possible. But, I didn’t want to short-change my youngest son.
Well, luckily, a friend of mine told me about an East Valley Slide and Bounce company that offered the perfect solution. Slide and Bounce Around, Inc (www.SlideandBounce.com) will actually brings the bouncy or slide to you, sets it up, then comes back 4 hours later and takes it down! AND, their rates are incredibly reasonable! They have party packages starting at just $159!! That package includes your choice of a bouncy, a concession machine, and a game!! Other packages include dry and wet inflatable slides, tables and chairs, and other games.
We ordered a big slide, a popcorn concession machine, a spin art game, and a bubble machine for a great deal! We set up the bubble machine right outside the the slide exit and the kids were thrilled to slide into a bunch of bubbles! The spin art game was a huge hit — the kids could make beautiful art in about a minute! And, my older son had so much fun manning the popcorn concession stand! Everyone had a great time — and, we were able to stay within our budget!
If you are in the East Valley and are looking for a fun, unique, and inexpensive option for your child’s birthday, be sure to check out Slide and Bounce Around, Inc. at www.SlideandBounce.com or call them 480-507-5867.
