The Activity Mom Reviews and Giveaways

Winner - Target Read With Me IPAD Giveaway

2011-01-21T13:19:00.000-06:00

A huge thank you to Target for initiating the Read With Me Program and for offering this IPAD giveaway!

The Winner is:

JDaniel4's Mom who said "I love reading to JDaniel after his afternoon nap. We actually read all day."

Congratulations!

Happy Reading!

Winner - The Write Start

2011-01-06T21:24:00.000-06:00

The winner of The Write Start by Jennifer Hallissy is...

Jess who said...

I am excited to use your ideas with my 12-month old! He is already scribbling so this book will help prepare me for what is to come! Thanks so much!

Congratulations, Jess! You are going to love this book!

"The Write Start" Review and Giveaway

2010-12-30T21:29:00.001-06:00

This Giveaway is now closed.

The Write Start by Jennifer Hallissy

I couldn't put down my copy of "The Write Start" by Jennifery Hallissy. This book is perfect for parents who are trying to encourage and develop their young readers and writers. Jennifer Hallissy believes that if you give children a solid foundation of writing basics, they will develop a love of writing that lasts a lifetime (which leads to benefits in other academic areas too).

In this book, she shares the secrets for supporting young writers, from the smallest of scribblers to middle-schoolers mastering script. Jennifer gives you tips and techniques to support each level of writing and she also gives 52 activities that are easily implemented at home, adapted to your child's level. It is easy to read and refer to. I found myself highlighting and bending corners that I knew I'd want to look at again.

I really enjoyed the chapter that gave different suggestions on how to help your child build their motor skills to get them ready to write. I also appreciated specific examples she gave about how parents can model writing and thinking about writing in simple and effective ways.

The part that impacted me the most was when Jennifer said, "Believe it or not, there is a direct link between being able to access the ideas tucked away in your mind and being able to access your writing tools and materials." So true! I grab pads of paper all day long to jot down lists and other ideas but I don't make B's tools as accessible. Her list of a "writer's pantry" inspired me to upgrade B's writing box to a new, special writing area for where he can keep his different writing tools. Since, then he's been writing non-stop!

Overall, I think this book is an awesome resource for parents. I have been very encouraged and inspired by it and know you will be too. You can pick up your own copy of "The Write Start" here.

Do you want to win your own copy of

"The Write Start" by Jennifer Hallissy?

How to Enter:

Leave a comment and let me know how you'd use this book.

That's it! One comment and you are entered to win.

*This giveaway is open to US residents only.

**I will select a winner using random.org. Make sure your email is enabled in blogger or leave it in your comment so I can contact you.

The contest starts now and ENDS Wednesday, January 5th at midnight. The winner will be announced here and emailed (your email must be enabled in Blogger or in your comments). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a copy of "The Write Start" to review. However, these views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Target Read with Me and IPAD GIVEAWAY!

2010-12-20T20:58:00.003-06:00

This giveaway is now closed.

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Target, particularly the Dollar Spot! Now I have one billion other reasons to love them because Target believes every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, in addition to graduating high school. They feel so strongly about this commitment that they are planning to donate more than $500 million to support education by the end of 2015, which would bring the company’s total to-date education-related donations to more than $1 billion.

A significant chunk of this money is going toward programs that will help more U.S. children reach one of the most critical milestones on the path to graduation: reading proficiently by the end of third grade. In fact, research shows that at the end of third grade, school curriculum shifts from learning to read to reading to learn, and that students who can’t read at grade level by this time have trouble keeping up, and often fall behind. It is more difficult to close the gap after third grade, which is why there is an urgency to do everything we can to get and keep kids reading on grade levell!

Target is encouraging this focus on reading movement to start right at home! Just by reading on a regular basis we can encourage and instill a life long love of reading in our children! Target challenges you and I to set up a regular reading schedule with our kids.

When do you read with your children? Our routine is to read a book before nap and at bed time. I love that special time of snuggling up and reading! More than that I love when B refers back to a story we've read, pretends he is a part of the story, or find similarities in books we've read. I can't get enough of that! So much can come from enjoying books with our children!

Target is giving one lucky Activity Mom reader a 16GB Wi-Fi enabled iPad and a selection of children’s books, a prize package valued up to $599.
This will definitely make it easier to get into a reading routine!

To Enter:
Leave one comment and tell us what your favorite children’s book is and/or your favorite time and place to read with your kids.

Good Luck!

This sweepstakes is only open to U.S. residents 18 years or older. A winning commenter will be drawn at random, using Random.org, after the sweepstakes closes on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 12:00am EST. The winner will receive a 16GB Wi-Fi enabled iPad and a selection of children’s books, a prize package valued up to $599. After the winner is notified, he or she has 48 hours to respond with their mailing address, phone number and ages of their children, so that Target can ship the prize and select books appropriate for their children. If the winner does not reply in that time frame, he or she forfeits the prize and another winner will be drawn at random. Please note that we cannot ship product to a P.O. Box.

Per the FTC’s guidelines on endorsements (http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm), I must clearly and conspicuously disclose that I am working with Target, and am receiving compensation from Target for running this sweepstakes and Target is providing a prize for one of my readers.

Winner - Time for Tots Shapes Kit

2010-11-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Thank you to everyone that took time to enter this giveaway!

The winner of The Shapes Kit from Time for Tots is:

Airamty from My Princess World

Congratulations! We have emailed you with more details.

**Visit our Time for Tots Facebook Page to get the scoop on our one day only, Black Friday sale!

Time for Tots Giveaway

2010-11-22T06:00:00.041-06:00

Do you want to win The Shapes Kit from Time for Tots?

How to Enter: (pick one or pick them all - up to 4 ways to win)

Who would you give The Shapes Kit to? (1 entry - leave a comment)

Time for Tots Facebook Fan (1 entry - leave a comment)

Already a Time for Tots Customer (1 entry - leave a comment with your Etsy name)

Follower of The Activity Mom and/or The Shafer Family Blog (1 entry - leave a comment)

*The winner will be announced here on Friday, November 26th.

Make sure to visit Time for Tots Facebook Page on Black Friday to get the scoop on our Black Friday Special!

Winner - 50th Anniversary Green Eggs and Ham Book

2010-10-03T14:47:00.000-05:00

The winner of the 50th Anniversary Green Eggs and Ham Book is:

comment #4 - Kim

Thank you to everyone that entered!

Anniversary Edition of Green Eggs and Ham Giveaway

2010-09-22T22:03:00.000-05:00

Have you entered your video in the "Ham it Up" video contest?

Do you want to win

an anniversary edition of Green Eggs and Ham?

Just leave a comment below and you're entered!

This giveaway will close at midnight on Tuesday, September 28th. The winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted via email.

I was given a copy of this book, but was not compensated in any other way.

Stepping Stones Together

2010-07-14T16:22:00.000-05:00

Recently I was given the opportunity to try Stepping Stones Together, a reading program that is designed for parents to help their child (ages 3-7) with beginning reading skills. The Stepping Stones Together reading program uses an easy to follow, 6 step approach, which you and your child can complete in just 15 – 20 minutes a day. There are different levels and genres of stories, questions for each book, writing prompts, printable flashcards for additional practice, and extra practice ideas all in an easy to use online format.

What I love about my experience with Stepping Stones Together:

*It is personalized. You can pick genres of books that your child will be interested in and their name appears on each of the books.

*It is printable. You can print the books, writing extension sheets, word cards, incentive chart, certificates, and the 6 steps as a reminder.

*The step by step instructions are based on research and considered best reading practices.

*Online support for all of my questions.

*The characters and illustrations were interesting to B.

*The choice of printing out the book or saving it to your computer to read was a fun choice to offer B.

Results:

At first, B just wanted to hear me read the stories and he kept telling me I was in charge of the words. I was wondering if maybe it was too soon for him. I struggled with the balance of encouraging, but not pushing him. With the online support at Stepping Stones Together, I kept plugging along with small adjustments and then one day B agreed to read one of the books with his Dad on the computer. That’s all it took. From that day on, he has been excited to participate. He loves to pick which book we will read next and he is so proud to check them off of the list. He loves the option of reading it on the computer and enjoys the writing extensions.

We are coming to the end of level A. We could be reading level B books but he wants to make sure all of the boxes get checked off on his sheet so we will continue with level A for awhile longer. Stepping Stones Together has given B confidence. He has learned a lot of words, but more importantly he has been exposed to making predictions and answering questions about the story. It brings a huge smile to my face when he says, “Mom, we should look at the pictures to see what this book is going to be about.”.

Stepping Stones Together is offering a special deal right now for Activity Mom readers!
You can get a year of Stepping Stones Together (regular price $39.99) for just $19.99!

Go to the Become a Member page, purchase the $39.99 year program and put in the code "I want the deal". You will get a year of Stepping Stones Together for just $19.99!

Still not sure? Read more to find out if your child is ready for Stepping Stones Together?

Winner - Guidecraft Tabletop Puppet Theater

2010-07-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

A big thank you to Guidecraft for joining our celebration and for providing this Center Stage Tabletop Puppet Theater to one lucky reader!

The winner of the Guidecraft Tabletop Puppet Theater is:

Megan from Out of Kadesh

Congratulations, Megan and thank you to everyone that entered!

Winner - Guidecraft Drivetime Signs

2010-07-10T05:00:00.007-05:00

Thank you to Guidecraft for joining our celebration and for providing these Drivetime Signs to one lucky reader!

The winner of the Drivetime Signs is:

Lisa from My 2 Cents FL

Congratulations, Lisa and thank you to everyone that entered!

Winner - Reading Eggs Subscription

2010-07-09T05:00:00.009-05:00

A great big thank you to Reading Eggs for joining our celebration and for providing one lucky reader a subscription to Reading Eggs!

The winner of the Reading Eggs Subscription is:

Elle Belle's Bows

You are going to LOVE it! Congratulations and thank you to everyone that entered!

Guidecraft Tabletop Puppet Theater

2010-07-08T06:30:00.006-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Guidecraft sent us this Center Stage Tabletop Puppet Theater for our Celebration!

We wasted no time opening it up and get started. It was really easy to put together and is also very easy to take apart and fold up for storage. The theater is a very well made and sturdy.

The front and sides are chalkboard which lends itself to endless creativity. You can name your shows, write ticket prices, draw characters, etc. I used this opportunity to do a show about telling the truth! Puppets are a great way to teach/learn about different concepts. I love how the puppet theater functions like a full sized theater, but is used on the tabletop so it doesn't take up too much space.

Do you want to win a Center Stage Tabletop Puppet Theater from Guidecraft?

Here's How to Enter: (You MUST be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Guidecraft and browse through their amazing products. Come back and tell me which one you absolutely love.

Extra Entries:

*Follow Guidecraft on Twitter

*Follow Guidecraft on Facebook

*Follow Guidecraft's Blog

*Become a member our Mom Loop community

*Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link

*This giveaway is open to US residents only.

**I will select a winner using random.org so make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

The contest starts now and ENDS Saturday, July 10th at midnight. The winner will be announced here and emailed (your email must be enabled in Blogger or in your comments). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent the Tabletop Puppet Theater to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Winner - CSN Stores $60 Gift Certificate

2010-07-08T05:00:00.006-05:00

A big thank you to CSN stores for joining us in the Celebration and providing one lucky reader with the opportunity to choose from so many great items!

The winner of the CSN Stores $60 Gift Certificate is:

Karen from Sippy Cup Central

Congratulations, Karen and thank you to everyone who entered!

Guidecraft Drivetime Signs

2010-07-07T06:30:00.005-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Guidecraft generously sent us these Drivetime Signs for our Celebration!

When they arrived B was so excited to figure out what these signs were all about. Thankfully they were really easy and fast to put together. B was even able to help me. The pieces are very kid friendly - a good size, smooth edges, and nothing that would pinch little fingers.

I love how real the signs look and the height (3 ft.) is perfect to make them come alive. Now when we drive down the road B says, "I have one of those signs!".

There are so many ways to use these signs! Here are a few things that we tried:

*To learn what the signs mean, we scattered them around the house and ran to each one and acted out what the sign told us to do. It was so much fun!

*B had a blast taking them outside and setting them up to make his own roads and use them with his scooter.

*We also took them off of the posts and used them on the floor with B's matchbox cars (not pictured).

The signs are lightweight enough for B to move around and manipulate himself which is perfect. For outdoor use there is a capped spot in the green base to put sand or pea gravel to weigh them down.

Do you want to win a set of these Drivetime Signs from Guidecraft?

Here's How to Enter:

**You must be a follower or subscriber of The Activity Mom to be eligible to enter!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Guidecraft and have fun looking through their products. Come back and tell me which one you absolutely love!

Extra Entries:

*Follow Guidecraft on Twitter

*Follow Guidecraft on Facebook

*Follow Guidecraft's Blog

*Become a member of our Mom Loop community

*Blog about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link

*This Giveaway is open for US Residents only.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Friday, July 9th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

I was sent a set of these Drivetime Signs for review purposes. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way!

Reading Eggs

2010-07-06T06:30:00.053-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Readingeggs.com is an online world where children have fun learning to read! Reading Eggs' 80 lessons are designed for 4-6 year olds and Reading Eggs World was designed for 6-8 year olds. Reading Eggs assesses your child's progress and adjusts the level of difficulty according to the results, which allows your child to progress at their own rate. Reading Eggs is launching their US edition in August and we are so excited for it!

To play, your child will complete different lessons to earn golden eggs that can be used to buy reward games. We are huge fans of this site! B loves to play and feels so proud of himself when he earns golden eggs and I can't believe how much he has learned in such a short amount of time! He started by playing different games with letters and is now working on word families and a few sight words.

Reading Eggs is offering a free trial until the middle of August. Go to Readingeggs.com, click on the Register button located on the top orange bar. Then add the code: WQL35XKU in the required field. It's that simple!

Do you want to win a 6 month subscription to Reading Eggs?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Reading Eggs and tell me something you found out about them on their site OR let me know that you signed up for a free trial.

Additional Entries:

Become a member of our community, Mom Loop.

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Thursday, July 8th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way!

CSN Stores $60 Gift Certificate

2010-07-05T06:30:00.003-05:00

This Giveaway is now closed.

CSN stores has it all! They have over 200 online stores where you can find everything from a bathroom vanity to kids' toys! They even have things you might not think about like chalkboards and printer ink.

What's better than a store that has it all? A gift certificate to a store that has it all!

What would I pick if I won? A car seat or a food steamer to make baby food!

Want to win a $60 gift certificate to CSN Stores?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)
**Leave a comment, any comment - that's it!

The contest starts now and ENDS Wednesday, July 7th at midnight. The winner will be chosen by random.org, announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was not compensated in any way for this post!

Winner - Felt Breakfast Set

2010-07-03T05:00:00.005-05:00

A big thank you to It's the Small Things for joining our celebration and providing one lucky reader with a felt breakfast set!

The winner of the felt breakfast set is:

Brodie from 1 Prince and 3 Princesses

Congratulations, Brodie and thank you to everyone who entered!

Winner - Disney Family Fun Subscription

2010-07-02T05:00:00.007-05:00

Thank you to Disney Family Fun for joining our celebration and for giving one of my lucky readers a subscription to your magazine!

The winner is of the subscription is:

Dana from Play and Learn with Dana

Congratulations, Dana and thank you to everyone who entered!

Winner - Scavenger Hunt Cards

2010-07-01T05:00:00.011-05:00

A huge thank you to Kid-N Around Creations for joining our celebration and for giving one lucky reader a set of Scavenger Hunt Cards.

The winner of the Scavenger Hunt Cards is:

Jen from Creative and Curious Kids

Congratulations, Jen and thank you to everyone who entered.

Felt Breakfast Set

2010-06-30T06:30:00.004-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

It's the Small Things sent us this felt breakfast set for our Celebration!

The food is adorable! My favorite is the pancake with the layer of syrup and butter. Too cute! B's favorite is the egg. He puts it on a green plate and suddenly we are having green eggs and ham. This felt breakfast set has provided us hours of pretend play!

I'm a huge fan of It's the Small Things shop! They have so many unique items for kids. From travel size felt flannel boards and accessories to chef outfits for pretend play, you are sure to find something you love! They also have a Holiday Shop.

Do you want to win a felt breakfast set from It's the Small Things (dishes not included)?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit It's the Small Things and tell me what else you love from her shop (I recommend looking in the Children Fun Items tab).

Extra Entries:

Heart It's the Small Things Etsy Shop by clicking "Add Seller to Favorites"

Follow It's the Small Things Blog

Become a member of our Mom Loop community.

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link.

*Open to US residents only.

**Winner will be selected using random.org so make sure to leave a comment for each entry.

This contest starts now and ENDS Friday, July 2nd at midnight. The winner will be announced here and emailed (make sure your email is enabled in blogger or leave it with your comment). The winner must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a felt breakfast set to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Disney Family Fun Subscription

2010-06-29T06:30:00.002-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Disney Family Fun magazine is one of my favorites! They always have so many great ideas for your children. Ideas that are totally doable and inexpensive. They also have an amazing website where you can view many of their ideas and articles including recipes, holiday ideas, printables, and party planning.

Would you like to win a subscription to Disney Family Fun?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Leave a comment and you are entered! That is it!

The contest starts now and ENDS Thursday, July 1st at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way!

Scavenger Hunt Cards

2010-06-28T06:30:00.013-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Kid-N Around Creations sent us this set of Scavenger Hunt Cards for the celebration. The set contains 8 well made, sturdy, 4x4 inch felt cards with embroidered pictures to hunt for. Our set has a bird, dog, stop sign, car, tree, flower, plane, and cat all tied together with a ribbon.

I am in love with this set of cards! When we are on a walk or in the car, B has fun hunting for these objects and flipping through the set as he finds them. I also appreciate how it has the word embroidered below the picture so that B can learn the words. It is also perfect for baby N to play with too. It is a great vocabulary and sensory activity for her as she holds and feels the picture while hearing us say the name of the object. There are several types of these card sets available including a restaurant set and a grocery store set. Fun!

There are so many different fabulous items for kids offered at Kid-N Around Creations! A few of my personal favorites are the princess felt set, the beauty set, and the Nativity puppets (all pictured above). The quality and design of their products is fantastic and they are sure to bring hours of fun to your home!

Do you want to win a set of Scavenger Hunt Cards from Kid-N Around Creations?

Here is How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Kid-N Around Creations and tell me what you love in the shop.

Extra Entries:
Follow Kid-N Around Creations Blog
Join Kid-N Around Creations on Facebook
Follow Kid-N Around Creations on Twitter
Become a member of our community, Mom Loop
Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link.

*This Giveaway is open for US residents only.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Wednesday, June 30th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a set of Scavenger Hunt Cards to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way!

Winner - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Felt Set

2010-06-26T05:00:00.005-05:00

A huge thank you to Edufelt and More for participating in our Celebration and for giving one lucky reader such a great prize!

The winner of the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Felt Set and $4 PDF file is:

Comment #16 Jennifer

Congratulations, Jennifer! You are going to love! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Winner - Button Art

2010-06-25T05:00:00.008-05:00

A big thank you to ALEX for joining our celebration and for giving one lucky reader a Button Art Kit!

The winner of the Button Art Kit is:

Comment #2 JDaniel4's Mom

Congratulations, JDaniel4's Mom and thank you to everyone who entered!

Winner - Sandpaper Numbers Set

2010-06-24T05:00:00.007-05:00

Thank you Polliwog Learning Products for joining our celebration and giving one lucky reader a sandpaper numbers set!

The winner of the sandpaper number set is:

comment #8 - Janice from Baby Brainstorm

Congratulations, Janice! You are one lucky lady! =) You are going to LOVE this set! Thank you to everyone who entered.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Felt Set

2010-06-23T06:30:00.002-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

I bought this Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Felt set ages ago from Edufelt and More. She has so many awesome handmade felt sets, it was hard to choose! My favorite part of this set is the tree. It is layered and very detailed down to the coconuts. Love it!

Edufelt and More is a store FULL of hands on resources that help teach or reinforce concepts in a fun way!

One reader is going to win a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Felt Set and a $4 PDF File (or 2 $2 File Folder Game downloads) from Edufelt and More!

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Edufelt and More and tell me what your favorite felt set is and what PDF file you'd pick if you won.

Extra Entries:

Become a member of our Mom Loop community.

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Friday, June 25th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way!

Winner - Are You KIDing Me?

2010-06-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

The winner of "Are You KIDing Me?" By Haley Greene is:

Alissa from Excuse Me Mrs. C

Congratulations, Alissa! You are going to love the book! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Button Art

2010-06-22T06:30:00.004-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

ALEX, the premier award-winning brand of creative toys and children's lifestyle products, has seven categories of toys: art, crafts, bath, style, play, ALEX Jr. for baby, and ALEX Little Hands for preschoolers.

The ALEX Jr. Collection for baby has unique toys that allow your baby to explore and encourage fine motor skills. I think the "I Can Cook" and the "Hug a Puzzle" are so neat!

The ALEX Little Hands Collection for preschoolers has learning toys and skill builders, games, and craft kits. A couple of my favorites are the "Learn to Dress Monkey" and the "Talk of the Farm".

ALEX sent us this Button Art kit for the Celebration! You choose from 10 pictures to complete by putting the buttons in their matching colored circle. It comes with 10 picture cards, 46 buttons, and a storage tray. B had so much fun completing the pictures how they were supposed to be done and then again in his own creative way. Then, we also used the buttons and the tray to sort by color, make patterns, and play Guess the Letter or Number.

The pictures are vibrant and interesting which immediately got B's interested. He loved the 2 eyeball buttons that came in the kit. The chunky buttons are well made and can be manipulated easily, which makes this a perfect independent activity for a preschooler. The only thing that I would change would be to make the buttons primary colors instead of florescent. B has a hard time distinguishing between bright yellow and lime green and it might also be difficult for a child just learning the colors. The age on this Button Art kit is 2+ and I think it would make an awesome gift for a 2 year old! It provides the opportunity to work on colors, one to one correspondence, and fine motor skills.

Do you want to win a Button Art kit from ALEX?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:
Visit ALEX's website and browse their selection of unique and awesome toys. Leave me a comment and tell me what toy you'd love to have for your child.

Extra Entries:
Become a fan of ALEX on facebook
Follow ALEX on twitter
Become a member of our new community, Mom Loop.
Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me a link.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Thursday, June 24th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a Button Art kit to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way!

Sand Paper Numbers Set

2010-06-21T06:30:00.003-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Polliwog Learning Products sent us this set of sandpaper numbers for our Celebration. I couldn't believe the quality of the product when I pulled it out of the box! Awesome! These 3"x5" cards are made from 1/8" thick birch and are very smooth. The sandpaper numbers are the perfect size and font for little fingers.

Sandpaper numbers are a great way to introduce numbers to your child! Feeling the number as they trace it with their finger helps build a tactile memory of the number which can be referred to and built upon later. I love how the numbers have a starting point so B knew where to put his finger to begin! We also had a great time making different numbers (shown below) and putting them in order. B asked me where the letters are, so we will be getting those next! =)

Do you want to win a set of sandpaper numbers from Polliwog Learning Products?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter)

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what you would do with the sandpaper numbers set and promise to visit Polliwog Learning Products when the store reopens in July!

Visit Polliwog Learning Products and tell me something you learned about her shop ****THE SHOP IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED. THIS DOES NOT EFFECT THE GIVEAWAY.****

Extra Entries:

Heart Polliwog Learning Products shop on Etsy by clicking "Add Seller to Favorites"

Become a member of our community, Mom Loop.

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link.

*This giveaway is open to US residents only.

**I will use Random.org to select a winner so make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

This contest starts now and ENDS Wednesday, June 23rd at midnight. The winner will be announced here and emailed (leave your email in the comment if it isn't enabled in Blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a set of sandpaper numbers to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Winner - Customized Monogrammed Market Tote

2010-06-20T07:43:00.000-05:00

A huge thank you to Sugardoodlez for joining our celebration and for offering one lucky reader a fabulous market tote!

The winner of the customized monogrammed market tote is:

Maria from Close to Home

Congratulations, Maria! Thank you to everyone that entered!

Are You KIDing Me? by Haley Greene

2010-06-19T06:00:00.022-05:00

This Giveaway is now closed.

Do you want to win a copy of "Are You KIDing Me? 51 Things People Don't Tell You About Being Pregnant" by Haley Greene? This humorous, tell it like it is book is perfect for a quick read for yourself or a fun gift for a friend!

Here's How to Enter:

Leave me a comment and tell me what you wish someone would have told you about being pregnant OR tell me what you will do with the book.

This contest starts now and ENDS Tuesday, June 22nd at midnight. I will use random.org to pick a winner. The winner will be announced here and emailed. You must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was given a copy of this book to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Winner - Smart Mom Jewelry

2010-06-19T05:00:00.003-05:00

A big thank you to Smart Mom Jewelry for joining our celebration and for giving one lucky reader a Smart Mom Teething Necklace!

The winner is comment #21 - Jennifer

Congratulations, Jennifer! You are going to love your Smart Mom Jewelry! Thank you to everyone who entered.

Winner - ABC Quiet Book

2010-06-18T05:00:00.009-05:00

A big thank you to Linda of Linda's Krafty Kreations for being a part of our celebration and giving a gift certificate to one of my readers!

The winner of the $15 Krafty Kreations gift certificate is:

Tricia from Mom is the Only Girl

Congratulations, Tricia! I'm so excited to see what you choose from Linda's shop. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Customized Monogrammed Market Tote

2010-06-17T06:30:00.072-05:00

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!

Sugardoodlez is an Etsy store full of monogrammed cuteness! From the nursery to the beach, Sugardoodlez has the perfect customized item for you or for someone you love.

A few of my favorites are the newborn monogrammed blanket, the hooded towel, and the burp cloth/bib set (all pictured above)!

Sugardoodlez also offers customized monogrammed market totes that are perfect for storage, running errands, picnics, gifts, and more. These market totes are of high quality, sturdy, lightweight, stylish, & functional. It has a deep basket and can be quickly unstrapped from its frame for cleaning. It folds up for easy storage!

Do you want to win a customized monogrammed market tote from Sugardoodlez?

Your choice: chocolate brown, purple, black with white polka dots, or black and beige damask floral print

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter)

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what you would use your customized market tote for.

Extra Entries:

Visit Sugardoodlez and heart her shop (by clicking on "Add seller to favorites")

Become a member of our new community, Mom Loop

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Giveaway and leave me the link

*This Giveaway is open for US residents only.
**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Saturday, June 19th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way!

Winner - RoomMates Scroll Tree

2010-06-17T05:00:00.013-05:00

A huge thank you to RoomMates for joining the Celebration and brightening up a room of a very lucky reader with this Scroll Tree!

The winner of the Scroll Tree is:

comment #2 - Janice from Baby Brainstorm

Congratulations, Janice! You are going to LOVE it. Thank you to everyone who entered. This is just the beginning of the month of giveaways!

Smart Mom Necklace

2010-06-16T06:30:00.003-05:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Smart Mom Jewelry sent us this jade, Donut Shaped Pendant for the celebration. It is a teething necklace! Can you believe it?! Right when I put it on, N grabbed it and started gumming it. She loves it!

It's made from the same material as teething toys and the string is long enough that it doesn't pull on your neck when your baby is playing with it.

There are so many style choices in these necklaces. They have a variety of solid colors and patterns. They also have coordinating bracelets and key chains too! Babies always go right for your jewelry and now with Smart Mom Jewelry, it is safe for them to play with and put in their mouth!

I'm so happy that it is soothing to baby N, but I'm even happier that it is a stylish accessory. It is a CUTE necklace! You can't tell that it is for teething at all, which makes it ok that I wore it to the store the other day without kids and got compliments on it! =)

Do you want to win a necklace from Smart Mom Jewelry?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Smart Mom Jewelry and tell me which necklace is your style!

Extra Entries:

Join Smart Mom Jewelry on Facebook

Follow Smart Mom Jewelry on Twitter

Become a member of our Mom Loop community

Spread the word about the 1000 Reader Celebration and leave the link.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Friday, June 18th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a Smart Mom Necklace to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way!

ABC Quiet Book

2010-06-15T06:30:00.003-05:00

This giveaway is now over. Thank you for entering!

Linda from Linda's Krafty Kreations sent us this Sing My ABCs Toddler Quiet Book for our Celebration! WE are absolutely in love with it!

The detail and quality of this soft book, made from felt, is amazing!

The letters are sewn on the page and the little objects come off and velcro back on again.

The ABC objects are so detailed, down to the stitching and different textures. B has had so much fun taking the pieces off, mixing them up, and figuring out where they go.

Not only does it introduce letter sounds, it is also excellent for one to one correspondence as you sing the ABC song and point to each letter. The objects are great for vocabulary development, sensory exploration, and fine motor skills. We have used the objects for other ABC activities as well.

Today, Linda's Krafty Kreations is giving away a $15 Gift Certificate to use toward a quiet book or any of the other items in her Etsy store! She has SO many awesome items to choose from!

Here's how to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter!)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Linda's Krafty Kreations and tell me what you'd want to use your gift certificate towards.

Other Entries:

Heart Linda's Krafty Kreations on Etsy by clicking "Add Seller to Favorites"

Become a Fan of Linda's Krafty Kreations on Facebook

Become a member of our community, Mom Loop.

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me the link.

*This giveaway is open to US residents only.

**I will use Random.org to select a winner so make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

This contest starts now and ENDS Thursday, June 17th at midnight. The winner will be announced here and emailed (your email must be enabled in Blogger or in your comment). The winner must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent an ABC Quiet Book to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

RoomMates' Scroll Tree

2010-06-14T06:30:00.005-05:00

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!

RoomMates joined the Celebration and generously sent me this Scroll Tree for our playroom. It is the perfect decoration because it brightened up our space in a HUGE way and it sticks on which means there aren't any nails or staples that could come flying off if it was hit by a ball or another flying toy (come on...you know that happens at your house too!).

It arrived on two sheets with directions and I must be honest, I panicked! I thought "I don't think that I can put these pieces together to make that awesome tree!". But then B (my 3 year old helper for this project), pointed out that there were numbers on the page. It was coded by number which made it SO easy and allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief!

This tree is so cute. The details are amazing from the leaves to the animals. It turned the wall of the playroom into a magical space. B pretends he is in the forest. The pieces were very easy to peel off and put up. The pieces stick perfectly, even when you have to take them off and readjust them. I have slightly textured walls which made me nervous but the vinyl stickers went on well and have stayed on.

Want to win a Scroll Tree from RoomMates?

Here's How to Enter: (You must be a follower/subscriber of The Activity Mom to enter.)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit RoomMates and tell me what would be a perfect fit in your home.

Extra Entries:

Follow RoomMates on Twitter

Become a member of Mom Loop, our new community.

Spread the word about the 1000 Readers Celebration and leave me a link

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

*** This contest is open to US residents only.

The contest starts now and ENDS Wednesday, June 16th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

I was sent a scroll tree to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way!

Winner - Ritzy Rugrats Monogrammed Blanket

2010-05-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much to my friends at Ritzy Rugrats for this giveaway!

The winner of the Custom Monogrammed Blanket is........Dee

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered!

The Upcoming 1000 Readers Celebration!

2010-05-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute and say THANK YOU to all of my readers! Thank you for taking time to read my blog, try the activities, leave comments, and email me!

The Activity Mom is almost to 1000 readers (about 200 away)! So I've started planning for a 1000 Readers Celebration - A Month of Giveaways to Celebrate and Thank YOU!

Guidecraft has agreed to give 2 of their products in the grand finale!

How exciting!

So let's have a little fun...

*Visit Guidcraft and leave a comment with a guess about what you think one of the giveaways will be. If you are right you will automatically have an extra entry into BOTH of their giveaways when we reach 1000 readers!

**Spread the word! If you think your readers or friends would like The Activity Mom, mention the future celebration and send your readers over to check out my blog. If they decide to subscribe or become a follower, tell them to leave a comment and say that you sent them and that they are my newest follower. I will automatically enter their name and yours (yours will be entered EACH time a new reader mentions you sent them) into both of the Guidecraft giveaways!

***If you would like to be a part of the celebration and sponsor a giveaway, contact me nduggan2@gmail.com for details!

Ritzy Rugrats Giveaway

2010-04-26T06:00:00.007-05:00

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Ritzy Rugrats is giving away a Personalized Custom Monogrammed Baby Blanket to one of my lucky readers! This is the perfect thing for your little one and/or the perfect gift for a special mom!

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Ritzy Rugrats and look around for a bit. Leave a comment telling me which item you like the best!

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry - ex: Join Mom Loop get 5 entries so leave 5 comments)
*If you are a follower or subscriber of The Activity Mom (1 entry)

*Become a Fan of Ritzy Rugrats on Facebook. (1 entry)

*Visit Ritzy Rugrats and Heart their Shop. (2 entries)

*Join the new Blog Frog community I am a part of, Mom Loop. (5 entries)

*Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post. (1 entry)

*Put The Activity Mom button on your blog or on your blogroll and let me know. (1 entry)

*This Giveaway is open for USA only.
**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Friday, May 7th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

Winner - "Eat, Nap, Play"

2010-04-24T07:43:00.000-05:00

The winner of a copy of "Eat, Nap, Play" is:

#75 Smileyhappychan

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered!

"Eat, Nap, Play" Giveaway!

2010-04-20T06:30:00.007-05:00

"Eat, Nap, Play: How to Get Even More Out of Your Child's Day for Less" by Robyn Spizman and Evelyn Sacks is a great resource! It reminds you of the importance of spending time with your children without unnecessarily spending money! This book is written by two moms, for moms with children of all ages!

Chapters Include:

*Spend More Time and Less Money

*Mommy, Daddy, and Me - Family Activities

*Mommy, I'm (Still!) Bored

*Fabulous Food and Kitchen Fun!

*Swap, Shop, Barter, Share

*The Party Circuit - Simpler, Sweeter, Cheaper

*Low-Cost to No-Cost Gifts

*Super School Savings

*From Wii to We - Techno Kids, Tweens, and Teens

*Resources and Freesources

Since reading the book I decided to implement something new at dinner time. We go around the table and say our favorite thing about the day and our least favorite thing about the day. Simple, free! B remembers to start the questions before we do and loves to share. He always says "Let's do it again!". =) Also, I 've made a mental note to try to do something spontaneous and fun once a day (ex: splash in puddles when it's raining, have a race, read 2 books instead of 1 before nap, etc.). It usually takes less than 10 minutes and it's a nice change of pace!

Want to win your own copy of "Eat, Nap, Play"?
This giveaway is now closed.

Here's how to enter (leave one comment for each entry):

*Leave a comment and tell me how many children you have and their ages.

*If you are a follower or subscriber of The Activity Mom leave a comment and let me know.

*Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post.

*If you have my button on your blog leave a comment and let me know.

*This Giveaway is open for USA only.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Friday, April 23rd at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

I was sent a copy of this book to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Winner - The Woombie

2010-04-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

Thank you to TheWoombie.com for providing this awesome gift of sleep to you and your baby!

The winner of The Woombie is.....
Comment #27 from :
April who said "even with baby number FOUR due in 5 weeks, I still can't swaddle! I'd love to try this!"

Thank you to everyone that entered and Congratulations April! You are going to LOVE the Woombie!

The Woombie Giveaway

2010-04-10T21:20:00.004-05:00

This Giveaway is now Closed!

The Woombie has changed our lives and the people at TheWoombie.com are generously giving one of these to one of YOU!

WHY Use The Woombie to Swaddle?

1- Fabric - 4 way stretch so baby can have a normal range of motion to promote and enhance motor development while maintaining an effective swaddle.

2 - Ease of Use -Easy in/out zipper, just put baby in and zip it up!

3 - Effectiveness - Prevents startle reflex, face scratching. Promotes comfort and security.

4 - Safety - Will not unravel and ride up over baby's face. Will not overheat baby due to over-wrapping.

5 - Peanut Shape - Ergonomically shaped to fit baby's shoulder, waist, and hip contours.

Do you want to win The Woombie (size: newborn - orange)?

Here's how to enter (leave one comment for each entry):

*Leave a comment and let me know who will use The Woombie (your child or a gift?).
*If you are a follower or subscriber of The Activity Mom leave a comment and let me know.

*Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your post.
*If you have my button on your blog leave a comment and let me know.

*This Giveaway is open for USA only.

**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Friday, April 16th at midnight. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

I was also sent a Woombie to review. I already owned a Woombie before contacting this company. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Winner - Melissa and Doug Giveaway

2010-01-06T07:27:00.007-06:00

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway! Congratulations to the winner!

Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set

Comment #46....Jennifer G.

Thank you to CSN Stores with their full selection of online toys for providing this Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set for this giveaway!

I will be emailing you shortly, and will need to hear back from you within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Melissa and Doug Giveaway

2010-01-01T18:55:00.000-06:00

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered!

CSN Stores has a website full of online toys. They were so generous and sent us the Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set and they are also going to send one to one of my readers!

I'm in love with Melissa and Doug and I'm in love with this toy! All of the cookies velcro to the cookie sheet or velcro together so you can slice them. The frosting also velcros on to allow for you to customize your cookies. B has been playing with this set continuously since we got it out of the box. He's really into slicing them and serving them with the spatula. The oven mitt is a big hit too!

So here it is...My First Giveaway!Do you want to win a Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set?

Here's how to enter:

* Visit CSN's online toys and browse around a bit. Leave a comment telling me which toy is still on your wish list even after Christmas.

Extra Entries (leave one comment for each entry):
*If you are a follower or subscriber of The Activity Mom leave a comment and let me know.
*If you've tried one of the activities featured in one of The Activity Mom posts, leave a comment and let me know which activity you've tried.
*Leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to see more of on The Activity Mom. (For example, what types of activities you'd like to see more of or which age group you'd like to see more activities for.)

*This Giveaway is open for USA only.
**I will select a winner using Random.org, so be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest starts now and ENDS Wednesday, January 6th. The winner will be announced here, and emailed (your email MUST be in each comment/or enabled in blogger). The winner must reply to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

I was sent a set to review. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.