SafeEyes giveaway

Updated August 14:

The winner is Leslie! Congrats and enjoy!


When your kids are little, the internet is a simple place. They are monitored while online 100%, simply for the fact that they could break something if you walk away! But as they age, you tend to walk away more and more, thinking "What can he possibly find at this age? He's so innocent and still loves Pokemon, for crying out loud!"

I will admit that I fell into that protected bubble. I felt my kids were relatively safe since I was never farther than a room away. And while I don't believe they would ever intentionally look for "bad internet stuff" I DO believe that "bad internet stuff" looks for them. I am NOT ok with that.

Enter the program, InternetSafety.com, SafeEyes. SafeEyes is a parental control software that gives you, the parent, control over what their little eyes are exposed to. It allows you to block (or not) certain programs, games, websites (by categories), instant messaging and more. SafeEyes can record inappropriate posting of personal information and will report it back to you. It even has the option of placing a time limit on their computer time!

At first, I wasn't sure it was working. I don't customarily go to websites that one would consider objectionable. None of my children use the internet for more than games or YouTube videos. But have you SEEN some of the YouTube videos that are allowed to be published? Some of them are nothing short of pornographic! I finally realized the value of SafeEyes when I was personally going through a friend's website but couldn't see the pictures. I was confused. What was wrong with my computer? Had I gotten a virus or something?

And then it clicked in my brain. This site had, in the past, had pictures that weren't 100% innocent (though not horrible, either). The pictures were definitely ones I would have wanted to review before allowing my kids to look through them. The program was working! And, the best part? I was able to turn it off easily so that I could still peruse the internet as an adult.

Right then, I was sold. My children are coming into an age where internet safety is a serious issue. You may be finding yourself in a similar situation. If so, I have a 1 year subscription to the SafeEyes program for 1 lucky reader!

Ways to enter:

~ Comment!
~ Subscribe to my blog
~ Tweet about this giveaway
~ post about this giveaway on your own blog

I'll pick the winner on August 14. Good luck!

Clay So Cute giveaway!

Updated on August 13:
The winner, picked by Random.org, is #9, Jane from Winning Readings! Congrats, Jane! I'll contact you today for your mailing information! Thanks to all for entering and good luck on the next giveaway!



If your kids are into art projects, then I have a truly fun giveaway for you!

Clay So Cute is a new book by Sherri Haab all about the cool crafts you can make with polymer clay. Though the releases all say it is designed with an aim towards 8-12 year old girls, I disagree. The projects in this book appealed to all 3 of my kids, none of which fall into that marketing bracket. My eldest son is 10 and is thrilled by the robots and animals. He and I could easily picture how to adjust some of the girlier jewelry pieces into boyish decorations. This book also sparked his enthusiasm to design some projects for Christmas presents. When that particular child is excited about anything art related, I jump ALL over it.

All of them loved these projects, all the way down to my 3 year old daughter who cannot make ALL of the crafts, for sure, but is able to be involved in the basics. After all, what 3 year old isn't proficient in playing with clay? Polymer clay is simply something she can make that will LAST.

I am so happy to be able to share this book with 1 lucky reader! Simply comment below and I'll pull 1 name on Thursday, August 13.

You can get extra entries by:

~ subscribing to my blogs
~ tweeting about this giveaway
~ post on your own blog with a link back

Easy! Good luck and have fun!

What Happened, Indeed?

"What Happened To the Girl I Married?" is the choice for July's SVM book club. I was truly excited about this book as the basic outline was said to chronicle one man's journey into becoming the stay at home parent for a year and finding out exactly where his wife had "disappeared" to. The description definitely fits, as the book is about the author's own discoveries regarding the impact that being an at-home parent can have on one's psyche.

Read the rest....

Why is My Mother Getting a Tattoo Review

There are some books you read that just flow, you know? There are authors who write in a style that makes you believe you're actually having a conversation with them. While reading Jancee Dunn's new book, Why is My Mother Getting a Tattoo? And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had To Ask, I found myself wishing she WAS in front of me, telling me these hysterical stories from her life as we drank a cup of coffee. I found myself wanting to meet not only her parents and sisters, but also her friend, Julie. I loved listening to the monologues of someone who understands that the situations we experience are only half of the story; the other half (the half that keeps you reading) is the method with which the story is told. Her unique interpretations are what made me fall in love with every single person in her book.

Though, I WAS a little put out that she ended it before her baby was born! NOW I'm left to stalk her on the internet to see if she had a boy or girl and how that is going for her. (Should make for a whole new slew of humorous memoirs!)

There are some books you receive that you just can't put down. This was one of them. I've never liked book reviews that go on and on about the little details or break a book into a long, drawn-out metaphor. Cut to the chase. If I like it, I like it and I'll tell you about it! And this book?

I liked it.

Take a break and curl up with a cup of coffee and "Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo...." and you won't be sorry.


Don't forget the 2 giveaways listed below that end on Friday the 10th!

Funky Monkey giveaway!

The winner is... LuvnLife00! Congrats! I'll email you today!




I'm always looking for snacks for my kids. New things that they will actually EAT and that, hopefully, aren't completely filled with sugar or garbage. Also, to put it delicately, one of my children (who shall remain nameless but is old enough to be past this stage) is extremely, um, finicky.

EXTREMELY.

So, for him to actually try this snack and even like it? Pretty darn cool.

Funky Monkey sent us 4 different types of freeze dried, organic fruit. No sugar, no extra stuff. Just FRUIT! My picky kids liked 3 out of those 4! Jive-a-Lime, Purple Funk, Bananamon and Carnaval Mix. (I have to agree with them. The Carnaval Mix was not so yummy... But I may have hoarded the second bag of Jive-a-Lime for myself, and eaten it after they were asleep... Shhh.)
Well, except for her. She likes everything. Such a joy to feed!
Holy cow! I actually like it!


The folks at Funky Monkey are hoping you'll like their healthy snacks, too. Enter your name below for a chance to sample their 4 different treats. (Of course, if you don't win, you can find Funky Monkey at several stores found across the U.S.)

Extra entries for:

~ tweeting this giveaway
~ posting on your site
~ subscribing to my sites

I'll draw the winner on Friday, July 10

Good luck!

*Disclaimer: Of COURSE I am writing this because the company gave me the products to review. But I will always post my own personal, honest opinion about everything I review. And, if they pay me moola in addition? I'll let ya know. Carry on...

H2O

The Winner is Laanykidsmom! Congrats!


Day camp was fun.

Nothing like writing that cuts to the chase, right?
The weather was actually tolerable, in comparison to this week! (currently, at 8:30 am, it is 82 F which is cool and easy breezy compared to the 102 craziness of yesterday.) We had a couple of rainy days and a couple of hot days. None of them were so hot or so rainy that camp was cancelled, which, in my opinion, means "good weather." (this is what my blog has become? A lengthy discussion of the weather? shakes head in defeat...)

However, it WAS still June, and we did get some really warm days. There were water stations at every new activity for the boys to refill their water bottles, and thank God, because not all of them were actually drinking their water. As the day warmed up, so did the water bottles. Who wants to drink warm water?

Ha HA! I was drinking COLD water, THANK YOU! I was testing out some stainless steel water bottles from New Wave Enviro. Now, I know that "keeping the water colder" isn't a trait that the company posts or claims on their website. But, from personal experience? It DID.

We got to try the 40 oz, 12 oz and .6 liter bottles in the stainless steel collection. My only gripe? That the .6 couldn't use the mouthpiece for drinking out of the bottle. The 12 oz was just too tiny for one person for an entire day, and the 40 oz was way too big for Justin to carry around (but we shared it on our days we walked together). And giving a kid a bottle to drink water from that they take the lid OFF of? Not a good choice. However, they do have a 1 liter stainless steel that adapts to the pop-up sports caps. I think that would have been the best choice for a single person on a hot day.

My husband has even taken to bringing the 40 oz one to work on the hot dock. Anything that keeps him cooler and hydrated is my kind of product.

I hate using plastic bottles and try not to purchase any (though they still find their way into my house. I'm still scratching my head over that one). For those of you who "know" your environmental stuff, these stainless steel bottles don't have the lining that you're supposed to watch out for. Which, well, I'm glad! Because I didn't know I was "supposed" to watch for anything!

New Wave Enviro has offered the same water bottles for one lucky reader to win! Simply enter in the comments, and I'll pick the winner on Friday, July 10.

Extra entries for:

~ tweeting about this giveaway
~ posting on your site
~ subscribing to any of my sites.


*Disclaimer: Of COURSE I am writing this because the company gave me the products to review. But I will always post my own personal, honest opinion about everything I review. And, if they pay me moola in addition? I'll let ya know. Carry on...

A Whole New Show...

Winner is, well, TONYA of course! Geesh! I don't have a very large Chicago following, do I ?





If you're a fan of all things Disney (as we are) you won't want to miss this opportunity!

1 lucky family will win 4 tickets to the opening week (July 1-11) of the live musical rendition of Aladdin! (if your family is bigger than 4, enter anyway. We'll work it out. I promise!).

From July 1 to August 30, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier will be performing one of my favorite Disney shows. I know my youngest will particularly love this show. This year, her favorite toy? Jasmine. I kid you not! How perfect to be offered the chance to attend!

All you have to do to win?

Comment below!

Extra entries?

1. post about this giveaway on your own blog.
2. tweet about this giveaway.
3. subscribe to this blog.

And for those of you who are interested, but don't win the tickets, the theater has offered a promotional discount code for any readers of Just Another Mommy Blog/Review Blog.

Simply go to chicagoshakes.com and enter the promo code of MOMMY for $5 off your tickets!

I'll pick the winner on Thursday, June 25!