Planning your child’s birthday party is a daunting task. You have to figure out who to invite, whether or not you should have a theme, do you feed the kids or just have cake and ice cream and the list goes on. One choice that shouldn’t be difficult is the venue to host the party. Monkey Joe’s goes above and beyond to make sure your child’s party is perfect in every way.

Monkey Joe’s is a bounce house establishment with arcade games and fun everywhere you turn. The bounce houses rise all the way to the ceiling and include more than just a place to jump. Many of them have long slides and obstacle courses that keep the kids going going going. There is no doubt that they’ll be worn out and ready for a nap when you leave.

Children 2 and up pay to jump and must wear socks. Children 2 and under are allowed to jump in specified areas (smaller houses) and parents do need to accompany them. The arcade games are not included in your entry fee but I recommend bringing a few extra dollars for tokens because your children will beg you to allow them to play. They can win tickets to redeem for small prizes once they are finished.

Birthday parties at Monkey Joe’s are well organized and stress free for mom. When you call to book you’ll be asked a series of questions about the amount of children included and the extras you want to include with your package. At our location for the base price we received:

• 1½ hours in the supervised play area and your private party suite is available for 2 full hours
• Invitations for your guests
• We do all the set-up and clean up!
• Gift for the birthday child
• Drink for each child
• Dedicated Party Pro
• Paper plates, cups, tablecloth, utensils
• Pizza & Ice Cream are included in your package. Balloons and Goodie Bags are optional add-ons.

This may be different at your location so please check the Monkey Joe’s website for details. There are also a few different options to choose from to suit your families needs. The decorations included in your party are basic. You are welcome to bring in your own decorations if you had your heart set on a theme. The only thing you can not bring is food. You are required to bring a birthday cake. They are not provided.

We were treated to all the fixin’s since this party was for a review. The balloons would be worth the money in my opinion especially since it means you wouldn’t have to fight with them in your car. I firmly believe fighting with balloons in your car is the worst part of party planning.

The Goodie bags were filled with the type of prizes your child receives after playing games  in an arcade. Inside the bags were prizes such as paddle ball, plastic toy teeth, Chinese finger traps, plastic kazoos and the like. It was nice not to have to pick all of that stuff out myself and at under $3 each I can’t complain. The children were thrilled they were getting a Goodie bag so that makes me happy. In my opinion you should do all the extras so you don’t have to mess with doing it yourself.

Our party host was a life saver and did all the heavy lifting. Setting up the party, pouring drinks, serving pizza, cutting the cake, cleaning up spills, wrangling children and of course cleaning up were all part of her job description. She made sure the adults had beverages (at an extra cost) and that everyone was comfortable. Again, she was included in the package but I was sure to give her an extra tip at the end of the party.

The only thing they could change to make me more comfortable was adding an extra hour to the private party room. We did not have time to open presents. If you wanted to open gifts you would have had to pull the kids off the bounce house floor and then they wouldn’t have had much time to play. 2 hours goes by really fast when you have to eat pizza and birthday cake.

The kids had ample time to bounce themselves sick and after the party ends they are invited to stay and play as long as they’d like. At the end of the day I can honestly say I felt like I got my money’s worth. Everyone was happy, the adults and the kids.

Don’t hesitate to book your Birthday party at Monkey Joe’s by visiting http://www.monkeyjoes.com and look for them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/monkeyjoes.

*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.

*Unfortunately my computer was stolen in the home invasion and all my Monkey Joe’s pictures were lost. I had just 2 that I had posted on Facebook. The rest of these pictures are stock images.

Young children can be very picky and none of my children have been exempt. I know if I have yogurt on hand my two boys will always have a healthy snack. When Stonyfield asked us to try their new YoKids Greek Yogurt it was a no brainer.

I have always been a fan of Stonyfield’s YoBaby Yogurt. Karolyn and Kyle both were big fans of the YoBaby with the Blueberry variety  being their favorite. As Karolyn got older she decided yogurt was gross but my boys still love it and eat it many days a week.

We are graduated out of the YoBaby now that Wyatt is 2.  We have moved onto the YoKids with the strawberry/vanilla and blueberry combo being our favorite combo pack. My kids love the rich taste and wonderful texture.  I love that it has 25% less sugar than the leading kid’s yogurt. Yo Kids is also  USDA organic so I know I am giving my children something nutritious without any of those nasty chemicals lurking in the background.

The YoKids Greek was totally new for us so we were excited to try it.  If your child eats yogurt as much as mine do, you will know it is a totally new product. YoKids Greek is the very first organic Greek yogurt made especially for children. Each container contains 100 calories and just 1 gram of fat. It contains 6g of Protein and 20% of your child’s daily needs of both Vitamin D and Calcium.  This makes YoKids Greek a wonderful snack choice for your child. It also contains their exclusive blend of 6 live cultures: S. Thermophilus, L.Bulgaricus, L.Acidophilus Bifidus, L.Casei And L.Rhamnosus.  These cultures aide in digestive health as well as overall health and well being.

I did have a bit of a problem finding YoKids Greek Yogurt as it was not sold in the grocery store at which I shop. I did eventually find out that it is currently sold in Target stores. It comes as a 4-pack of either Raspberry or Strawberry flavored yogurt. Wyatt absolutely loved it. The rich texture and tanginess you would expect from Greek Yogurt were definitely present. I actually liked it too because it wasn’t too sweet like most of the other brands marketed towards children.

Right now Stonyfield is offering you an opportunity to try out YoKids Greek Yogurt by winning some great coupons.

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*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.

Check out the press release below about an innovative new product! Clean Cubes remind me of a simple paper grocery bag however they are reusable. There are tons of ways to use them and each one means helping the eco system. Be sure to like them on Facebook as well!

Brand-New Clean Cubes™ Receive Prestigious International Housewares Association Innovation Award

Young NYC couple invent patent-pending, eco-friendly and versatile trash product

NEW YORK CITY— After being on the market for only a few weeks, Clean Cubes™ took the home and housewares industry by storm when it recently received a prestigious 2012 International Housewares Association Innovation Award at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago.

Clean Cubes, a new patent-pending biodegradable, disposable and recyclable trash bin product available on Amazon, was invented by Javier Colayco, a New York City-based Harvard graduate and web entrepreneur, and his wife, Thuy Minh. The young couple bootstrapped the entire venture themselves.

A panel of International Housewares Association expert judges, including seasoned designers, major retailers and industry experts, selected the eco-friendly Clean Cubes to represent the most innovative new product in home organization and storage. Eleven other products were selected in various categories. More than 400 products were entered in the inaugural awards.

Colayco, 34, thought of the Clean Cubes concept when devising a solution to the constant trash pileup in his small New York apartment. He and Minh, 30, were constantly frustrated with an overflow of trash whenever they had guests.

“Clean Cubes are attractive, easy to use, affordable and convenient,” Colayco said. “We have many positive five-star ratings on Amazon, and customers are enthusiastic and seem to always come back for more. We hope to expand into the retail market very soon.”

Just a few uses for Clean Cubes:

Daily household (kitchen, bar, basement, garage)
Patio/deck
Pool
Parties
Weddings/receptions
Picnics
Camping
Boating

Learn more about the many uses for Clean Cubes on its new Facebook page.

By now everyone knows how much my Buddy means to me. Lately, I’ve been getting even more obsessed with my dog (if that’s even possible). Last week we were playing and I noticed that he was starting to turn grey around his nose. This sent me into a panic attack! Buddy is 5 years old, but my son is 18 and leaving home soon. I can’t lose Buddy; he’s the only thing that is going to keep me going once Jake leaves. So now I’m being extra careful about what I give him to eat. SmartBones is a healthy vegan alternative to the old rawhide.

Buddy’s nutrition is no less important than mine. He has to eat well if he’s going to stay fit and have a long life. Did you know that rawhides are thought by some people to be dangerous for your dog? Rawhide does not break down, so there is a high risk of choking and they are extremely hard for a dog to digest, which could cause stomach and intestine problems. SmartBones have no rawhide; they are made by combining multiple vegetables and processing them with chicken jerky, so they are all natural and 99% digestible. SmartBones have a delicious center strip that is also made of only the best healthy ingredients like real chicken, corn and peanut butter.

I gave Buddy a SmartBone in chicken flavor. Buddy is a bit of a Diva, go figure. He won’t eat anything I throw at him. He loved his SmartBone. He took it outside to chomp on in the front yard where all the neighbor dogs could see him, like I said Diva. It lasted about 10 minutes, which is about as long as anything Buddy really likes lasts. He seemed pretty happy and I felt better giving him something other than rawhide. After all, he’s the best dog ever, how could I take any chances with his health?

SmartBones can be found at your local pet supply stores. Don’t take any chances with your dog’s health. To learn more go to www.smartbones.com

Right now 2 lucky readers can win a bag of SmartBones for their best four legged friends.

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This contest is open to US Residents ages 18+ Only. Contest will run until June 5th at Midnight EST. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize.

*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.

Skype, which is a software application that allows users to make phone calls over the internet in both audio and visual capacity, chose a handful of bloggers to help spread the word about their service. I was lucky enough to be among the chosen. I love using Skype to chat with my other Mom blogging friends! Conversations become much more interactive when you can see one another face to face. I’ve even been known to call up a Mom friend and ask if the outfit I’m wearing looks appropriate for an event.

Skype has a Facebook application called Mom You Rock where you can actually leave a message for a special Mom in your life. Now my Mom does not have Facebook, so I had to get creative with this and choose some friends. I sent my friend Aimee a special Mother’s Day message and I sent my friend Kim with SheScribes a message just telling her she is amazing. I think checking into Facebook and seeing this will really make their day.

I’ll have a lot more to share with you about Skype. Have I mentioned all the celebrities I’ve interviewed on Skype? Maybe I’ll have more of that to share! Till then please check out Skype’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/skype and download Skype on your computer at home so you can begin chatting it up with me. I’m LeeAllport, feel free to send me a friend request!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Like a lot of women I have never had nice nails. I used to pay a lot of money for “fake” nails, but after a couple fills they didn’t look real and they hurt like hell if they jammed or broke. This was too high maintenance for me, so I gave up. Then along came The Red Carpet Professional Nail Kit, now I have fabulous looking nails.

My problem was I could never find a way to keep my natural nails from cracking, breaking and peeling. Also, I wanted a pretty polish that would dry quickly. I don’t have time to paint my nails and then wait for them to dry. I typically find the time to do these things about 2 hours before bed, which is great if you don’t mind the imprints from your blankets in your polish. Red Carpet Manicure solved all these issues. It is a gel application that requires a LED light to set. In four simple steps you have perfectly painted nails that are protected from breaking and the paint won’t chip.

First step is nail preparation which includes the use of an orange stick for your cuticles and a nail file for structure.

Second you apply a base coat which you cure under the provided LED light for 30 seconds.

Third you then apply the color application and set that layer under the light for 30 seconds.

Fourth there is a top coat that also sets under the light for 30 seconds.

All in all it takes about 20 minutes to complete both hands. The Red Carpet Manicure Professional Kit comes with the LED light, One Gel Color, Antiseptic, and both the Prime Coat and the Top Coat. Also included are bottles of the Nail Prep Solution & Nail Remover Solution. Retail cost: $79.99 at Ulta Stores. Additional colors retail for $9.99.

What I love about this product is how fast and easy it is to use. Applying the product is just like painting your nails with regular polish, the LED light is quick and easy to use and includes a built in timer. I was able to do the entire thing in one episode of Big Bang Theory and the best part; my nails were completely dry when I was done! They also stayed perfectly painted for 10 days. The only reason they have to be re-painted is because of the outgrowth along the cuticle. I had no issues with peeling, cracking or broken nails. The applications are thin enough that you don’t feel like you are wearing “fake” nails.

Quite honestly, The Red Carpet Manicure is now one of my favorite products. The only negative thing I could find was that they do take a little effort to remove and you go through a little more of the removal solution than you expect. However for $3.99 you can purchase a new bottle so it’s not a big deal. Also, the professional kit does not come with the prep tools i.e. orange stick, file and buffers. Those are also sold separately for $3.99.

I love the Red Carpet Manicure Kit so much that I went to Ulta and purchased a couple of the new spring colors. Red Carpet Manicure has given me beautiful hands, which is something I never thought I would have without paying for a professional manicure. Run out and get the Red Carpet Manicure Professional Kit for your mom for Mother’s Day!

Right now one lucky reader can win a Red Carpet Manicure Professional Kit.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.
Contest open to US Residents ages 18+ only. Contest will end June 1st at Midnight EST. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize.

No matter what the occasion, everyone wants to get a special gift that their mom will both appreciate and cherish. Moms appreciate the time and thought that goes into selecting a gift. There are many different kinds of special gifts that can be given to moms.

Many of the special gifts moms enjoy receiving are fairly traditional. For instance, perhaps a gift for her might consist of her favorite perfume. Many mothers also appreciate a helpful kitchen gadget or even a bathrobe. While these gifts are always appreciated, perhaps you might want to consider some other gifts that aren’t traditional?

Think about her interests. What gift could you purchase that would go along with these? For instance, if you mom is an avid reader, then perhaps you might want to consider giving her an electronic book reader. These have become popular gifts today. They require special books be downloaded onto them. You could select some for her or give her a gift certificate to let her select her own.

Another special gift idea for mom is providing her with some pampering. This can come in the form of a massage certificate or perhaps an entire weekend at a spa. Maybe you want to give her a manicure, pedicure or both. Moms do a lot and deserve pampering. Most moms will absolutely love this gift – in fact, we think all of them will!

Mobile phones are another special gift idea. Maybe she doesn’t currently own a mobile device or she has a mobile device but it simply needs updating? Purchasing her a new mobile device would help make it easier for you to contact her and keep in touch. You could also consider a case for her mobile device. Cases today can be quite attractive. Some may even be personalized, which could be found at sites such as www.gettingpersonal.co.uk .

Spoil mom rotten this Mother’s Day with a fun handbag from Kipling. I love this brand because it is really high quality. It makes me laugh because I have no idea why they have a monkey as their logo, but it’s incredibly cute. Also, when you purchase a bag you get a little Kipling monkey key chain. I don’t know about your child, but I know that my kids would find this a win/win. I get a great purse, they get a furry new toy.

Check out the new tote in the print Disco Flowers. It’s so colorful Mom might shy away from buying it for herself, but as a gift she’ll be thrilled to carry it all Summer long!

For more information on Kipling and to see all their bags and accessories visit http://www.kipling-usa.com

*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes I get a review product that surprises me, something I absolutely love and can’t live without. I was happy to hear from Tervis when they contacted us regarding their new line of products.  Their water bottle ended up being one of the best products I’ve ever reviewed. My sister, Lee, told me that Tervis insulated products were among their must give gifts for Christmas, but I didn’t understand why until I got mine. WOW is all I can say.

Both Jake and I have been trying to get in shape, I’m a bit round and Jake is preparing for Boot Camp. So the call to review a water bottle could not have come at a better time. One of the best things about Tervis is the selection of themed products available. You can get a Tervis water bottle, mug or travel cup with any logo or sentiment you can imagine. Lucky for me Tervis has a nice selection for Mother’s Day so the choice was easy. There will be no confusion as to whose water bottle is whose when Jake and I go to the gym.

Let’s get down to why I think Tervis is a product that everyone should own. First of all the ingenious design insulates the liquid, whether it be hot or cold, so your beverage stays at the right temperature for a long time. I’ve been duped by the idea that beverages will stay hot or cold with other products in the past, so I put Tervis to the test. I placed a few ice cubes inside my Tervis water bottle and added my favorite lemonade drink. Then I went to bed leaving the bottle sitting on the living room table. When I woke up the next morning (7 hours later) the lemonade was still cold, the ice had melted, but that is to be expected. The impressive part was how cold the liquid stayed. I tried the same test with hot coffee, same water bottle by the way. The hot liquid stayed warm, not hot, but warm is better than ice cold like my other travel mugs.

The new Tervis 24oz Water Bottle has a great snap closed lid, but the best part is the snap open part. This way when you are drinking, the lid is not slapping you in the face. The bottle will not sweat, so no fear of table rings. Some more great things about the Tervis water bottle is it has an extended life time warranty, it’s melt down resistant, virtually unbreakable and completely dish washer safe.

The Tervis Water Bottle retails for $25.00, you can add $5.00 to put your name on it to keep it safe from theft (believe me these are worth protecting). If you order on line at http://www.tervis.com you can also pay $3.00 for a perfect gift bag. Place your order now for Mother’s Day. I love my Tervis 24oz Water Bottle and use it every day. I can’t wait to use it this summer in the pool for my margaritas!

*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.

This summer break out the fun with the Step 2 Tropical Island Resort Water Table! Not only does this awesome water table hold 7 gallons of cool water, but it also has 14 play accessories. As you can see from the pictures my kids had a blast with the diving board. All they had to do was set one of the 4 toy children on the board and give it a good whack and the toy would sail straight into the pool of water below.

It gets hot pretty quickly in Orlando so I’m glad to know my son Spencer will have a way to beat the heat while at his pre school. I chose to donate this quality water table directly to them for their summer camp, which is why there is no water in my pictures. I can only imagine the absolute joy the kids will have while splashing one another and pumping the geyser to see the water flow. I like that it has pieces that are attached because then they won’t be lost. At a summer camp I can only imagine how long some of the loose accessories will last.

Set up was quick but don’t be fooled, it wasn’t a breeze. You do need to screw something things together. It still goes up in less than 10 minutes, but I thought it was going to be snap pieces and I was wrong, so don’t make my mistake. It’s also much larger and durable than I had expected. I believe that even at a busy Pre-school summer camp the Tropical Island Resort will hold up for many years with little to no issues.

I would highly recommend this water table to anyone in the  market. You can find it directly at http://www.step2.com where you’ll immediately see tons of other items you won’t be able to resist. Hey, I’m giving you fair warning.

*I received media sample. All opinions are my own.