Orlando Stroller Rentals at Walt Disney World

One of our favorite memories from the past year was our family's very first trip to Walt Disney World. Our vacation was made even easier and hassle free by using Orlando Stroller Rentals!

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Books for Grieving Siblings

One of the most difficult parts of being a grieving parent is supporting my other children as they miss their sister. When your baby or child dies you attempt to navigate your own grief as you struggle to explain to your other young children what happened to their brother or sister. I always reach for quality literature to assist me in explaining difficult concepts to my kids. This book list is for grieving siblings to understand the loss of a baby brother or sister.

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Personalized Books for Kids from I See Me! Books

If you are looking for the perfect personalized and educational gift for your kids you will love I See Me! Books! Our kids are thrilled by these bright, colorful, fun stories that contain their names and photos.

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Light Table Play on the Prism Light Center by Alex Toys

We love light table play! The soothing, sensory platform for learning activities is at the center of all the educational invitations we create for our preschooler and toddler. We have recently fallen in love with the Prism Light Center by ALEX TOYS so we are thrilled to share why we recommend it for your child's wishlist for the upcoming holiday season.

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Alphabet City Sorting Center Review

As an Early Childhood Teacher turned Homeschooling Mom I love to create my own educational activities for my kids but we also love to learn with the very best literacy toys on the market. You can't beat the convenience, durability, and fun of Excellerations Alphabet City Sorting Center!

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Our Homeschool Organization - By Healthier Spaces Organizing

We are ready to enter our first year of official homeschooling! We are thrilled to give you a tour of how we are organizing for our homeschool!

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The Value of Korxx: A Safe, Sustainable, and Educational Choice

It's clear that kids love Korxx. As a early childhood teacher and a mom I love the company Korxx. I support the sustainable, natural cork blocks they make. Most importantly they've convinced me to be a customer because of why they do what they do.

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10 Ways to Play with IncredibleFoam

We had the opportunity to review Discount School Supply's IncredibleFoam Dough by Colorations. We have played with it every single day since we've received it and we are still finding new ways to play and explore with this unique sensory dough! 

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Little Green Pouch Review & Giveaway

Isn't it exciting to find a reusable version of something you've been purchasing disposable?  When I discovered Little Green Pouch I just knew we had to try them!  This awesome mom-created company sent me a box of four - two for us to keep and two to giveaway!  

If you're a parent, you've likely seen the fruit and veggie puree squeeze pouches.  Have you tried them?  Most kids love them, just like any other squeezeable, pushable, slurpable snack.  It keeps their hands and mouths busy for awhile plus they are generally mess free and super convenient to throw in a bag on your way to the playground.  

But much like Maggie, who created the Little Green Pouch, I have felt stifled by the fruit and veggie blends that were available in prepackaged pouches.  I would buy a flavor to try, but E would deem it "too sour" and refuse to finish it.  Since I'm filling the Little Green Pouch myself, I know that she'll like what I'm putting inside for her snack!  I can add more nutritious produce that I know both kids like.  I'm loving their recipe page so  I'll be checking back for more ideas for both kiddos to keep the contents of our pouches new and exciting!

To try it out, I unzipped the top of the dishwasher safe, BPA-free, PVC-free & phthalate-free pouch and spooned in some applesauce.  I picked up E from her art camp (it was yellow/orange day as you can tell by the outfit and swath of paint on her tiny forearm) and gave her the snack at a nearby fountain.  She was impressed that it was still cold!

When we got home, I put the pouch on the top rack of my dishwasher, upside down and propped open.  Next I filled it with a homemade pea puree for D.  It was so much fun to be able to review a product that both of my kids could use!  

None of the accessories at the Little Green Pouch website are a necessity, but several of them would make this busy momma's life easier.  I am currently most coveting these silicone spout extenders for my teething, chewing baby!  

For D, it is super easy to pop out a few cubes of the frozen purees I've made for him to slip into the Little Green Pouch.  They thaw and keep the rest of the food in our lunch bag cold as we are out and about! 

Be sure to check their super informative FAQ page for anything I didn't cover in this review.  I'll report back in a few months on our SPS Facebook page to let you know how durable the pouches are after a summer of snacking on the go!

Now it is your turn to try the pouches out!  We will have two winners receiving one pouch each to spread the love around a bit more.  Please read our Rafflecopter tutorial to make sure you know how to enter correctly!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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As stated above, Little Green Pouch sent our family a couple of resuable pouches in exchange for this review, but all opinions and enthusiasm is 100% our own!  

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Splat Studio Preschool Summer Camp

We've been in love with Splat Studio since we first tried an Art of Reading class when E was barely two.  In late 2012, Splat Studio officially moved to their new location.  We are ecstatic to have this family art studio  in our community and will be taking advantage of this as both kids grow older!

This summer, E is enrolled in Splat Studio's preschool summer camps.  This was perfect timing, as recently she's been asking us about mixing colors:

E: "Momma, what is blue and green and yellow?"
Me: "Um, brown."

E: "Daddy, what if we mix red and purple and black and pink?"
Mr. SPS: "That would probably give us a gross brown color."
E: "Why everything make brown, brown, brown?"

We've assured her that not all colors mixed together make brown.  We've encouraged her to experiment with paint mixing so she can discover the results on her own.  We've started to say, "We'll have to try it and find out!"  But even better is sending her to a real art studio where she can ask an artist, be an artist, and experiment with color all summer long!

The first visit was red day.  Did I mention that this was the FIRST time I was dropping E off somewhere and leaving (other than leaving her with friends and family)?  She was a bit unsure about staying by herself (and I was emotional) while D and I went grocery shopping, but she was super excited about her all red outfit.  

Once we arrived, she saw the red themed snack, red materials to write and draw with, and a friendly face in one of the helpers.  She didn't mind anymore as we slipped out to run our errands!  

When I picked her up, she was still smiling!  She had a red collage and painting to take home with her.  

It's very difficult to get reliable information from a preschooler regarding what happened during their day.  This was a skill I worked on daily with my kindergarteners.  Even so, E was able to tell me a bit about the story that they read and that red could mean love or anger.

I was ecstatic to get more details on Splat's Facebook page.  The children had worked on cutting and tearing paper for the collages, dabbing and sweeping with their paintbrushes, and yes, MIXING colors.  They used white and red to make pink and E was in heaven.

Thank you so much, Splat Studio, for another wonderful art experience for my girl.  We look forward to the whole summer and exploring the rest of the color spectrum with you!

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We were not compensated for this review in any way.  We chose to enroll in the class and shared our experiences because we love Splat and all they have to offer!  

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OK to Wake Clock Review

Our children are early risers.  Most days they are both up by 6 at the latest.  As parents who love their sleep (and then lots of caffeine), we're not quite sure where they get this from. Someday they will be teenagers and we will be up first, drinking coffee in the kitchen as we discuss what time they got in the night before while waiting for them to rouse.  But for now, they wake us by climbing in our bed and cooing loudly, respectively, ready to go the minute they open their precious eyes. YAWN.

One thing that we purchased shortly after D was born to help E is the OK to Wake Clock by American Innovative.

We researched several options to teach E when it was time to get out of bed, but we decided on this clock for several reasons:

- The wake time AND brightness are programmable.  After we tried the clock for a few days, I realized that setting the green glow (that goes off when it is time to wake up) to a lower setting was a great idea for the days when she would sleep in.  It wasn't as noticeable to her as she would stir in her bed so sometimes she would go back to sleep.

- The biggest added bonus of this particular clock was the nap timer.  I can program in how long I want E to have a quiet time in her room (half hour, an hour, 2 hours) and she will have the consistency of the clock to show her when it's okay to leave her room just like she does in the morning.

- The clock has cute animated features like a winking, smiling face.  We love anything anthropomorphic in our house!

- It may seem like a minor detail, but you can change the face plate from green to pink and back again.  E LOVES her pink and I love that we can change it back if D wants to use it later (and would rather have it be green).

- Also extending the use of the clock is the alarm function that we can use when, maybe someday, we need to wake the kids by a certain time instead of teaching them NOT to wake until a certain time.  Oh, I can dream, right?

And now for the only part we don't love about the clock:

- It runs on batteries with no option for an AC adapter.  We use rechargeable batteries to help with the cost and carbon footprint, but if this option would bother you, too, you can check out American Innovative's handy Compare Products chart (scroll down and click the Compare Products tab) to see that the Teach Me Time clock plugs in to the wall but doesn't offer the nap timer.  Decisions, decisions!

American Innovative is generously extending a discount code for Still Playing School's readers to try their products.  Purchase products through their site for the next six months and get 20% off by using the code StillPlayingSchool20.  If you do buy something, please also comment here and let me know what you chose!    It's almost like we went shopping together (without leaving the house)!

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We purchased the OK to Wake Clock at full price on our own, but then contacted American Innovative afterward to inquire about a discount code for our readers.  As always, opinions are 100% my own.

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The Wonder Weeks Giveaway

When my babies are uncharacteristically fussy it really throws me.  I am a creature of baby-led routine (as much as you can be during the first year of life) so when we are doing what we always do, but it no longer works, I start frantically trying to diagnosis the issue.  The problem during that non-verbal first year is the multiple variables.  Digestive issues?  Sleep regression?  Growth spurt?  Teething?  WHAT IS WRONG?!

When E was a baby I found the answer that coincided with her clingy, fussy phases: The Wonder Weeks.

The Wonder Weeks are 10 developmental leaps that occur in the first 20 months of life.  Written by Dutch authors Hetty van de Rijt and Frans X. Plooij, The Wonder Weeks book outlines these predictable periods of learning which result in different perceptions of the world.  They also come with mood changes, fussiness, and sleeping issues.  The good news is they are much easier to deal with if you anticipate and expect it.  You can remind yourself that it's normal, it's a good thing, and there is a reason why your baby needs you more right now.  I especially love how Dr. Frans says you should never let a baby cry it out.  Hold them close, mommas!

D is coming up on his 19 week mental leap (next week!) also known as the 4 month sleep regression.  Right now we are in the throes of sleepless neediness.  His baby brain is getting ready to understand the predictability of more complex events.  The Wonder Weeks will prepare us for this transition by providing an insight into D's development as well as suggesting games and activities we can do to enrich his learning.

They also make an app for Android and iPhone that won the Coolest App for Moms award in 2012!  Be sure to check it out!

The Wonder Weeks has generously offered to giveaway 3 copies of their eBook from iTunes for our readers!  (To the best of my knowledge, you must have an Apple product and iBooks to be able to win and read this prize.)

You can enter by signing up for The Wonder Weeks leap alarm.  Visit The Wonder Weeks website and enter your baby's due date (since the leaps are calculated by gestational age, not birthdays).  Then just come back here and log in with Rafflecopter to let us know you subscribed!  You can get additional entries by liking Still Playing School and The Wonder Weeks on Facebook, sharing the giveaway, etc.(see all the ways to enter below)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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The Wonder Weeks sent me a eBook copy for completing this review, but the opinions and enthusiasm are completely my own!

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Emily Grace Photography

We had a newborn photo shoot scheduled for baby D to be taken when he was a week old, but the photographer had to cancel due to a family emergency.  I was so sad because I wanted fresh newborn pictures taken before Christmas.  Then my sweet friend Megan stepped in and put me in touch with Emily Grace Photography.

This shoot worked out even better because Emily and Lindsay came to our house.  It was so sweet to get pictures of D in his own room.  I could take a break for nursing and changing his diaper in the comfort of our regular places.  And yet, the shots look like they were done in a studio.

Thanks Emily Grace Photography, for catching this moment in time when my soon to be BIG boy was still so very small.  

There are details I never want to forget, like this fuzzy shoulder.

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These opinions are 100% my own, but we did receive a photo shoot and edited digital pictures for this review.

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E's Makeover

The Princess Party manicure and pedicure was a big hit, so we decided to return to Erica for a haircut for E. I have been trimming her bangs myself since she was 5 months old and last spring I took a few inches off the length.  This was her first professional haircut!  Her hair was getting tangled on a regular basis, she was arguing with me about combing it, putting it in pigtails or ponytails, and washing it.  It was time!

Together, E and I checked out Pinterest looking for little girls' bob styles.  I wanted to go short while she will still allow it.  We settled on shoulder length for now (or as I referred to it: Snow White) but we may go shorter for summer.  I promised her we could still use headbands and clips!  We kept the bangs because to me they just define a little girl.

Erica was wonderful at keeping my non-cooperative girl entertained while she worked.

After she was done, E had a chance to style Cowie's hair with the salon's toys which she loved.

Like I mentioned before, The Pink Polish is completely kid and family friendly.  I appreciate being relaxed with the kids while I'm there.

Lastly, Erica added a washable, PINK chalk streak that totally made E's day!

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I was not compensated nor did I receive a discount for this review.  The opinions are my own.  E and I are both thrilled with the results. 

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