Go Graham Go: Parenting | Recipes | DIY | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews | NC Mom Blog

"Felicia- I am looking for some sort of tool (DVD/Book) that will help my preschooler learn the alphabet and numbers. I just want to make sure she is on the right track. Do you have any suggestions."

I have more than a suggestion...it should be a requirement for all babies and preschoolers! This is the easiest question for me to answer because I can think of just one DVD that does all of this and is affordable: The Preschool Prep Series. They have titles that introduce your child to the alphabet, letters, shapes, colors, and site words. Graham is only 2 and already knows the entire alphabet (upper and lower case), numbers 1-10, shapes, colors, and a long list of site words. The alphabet he learned at 18 months old.

I would definitely start with Meet the Letters. You can start as early as 6 months. WARNING: These videos are more than likely going to annoy you, but your child will love them. They take the concept of repetition to make this work (which is extremely successful and how we learn). Check out the complete review of Meet the Letters. If you have any more questions about these DVDs please do not hesitate to email me!

If you are looking for a great book to go along with these I would suggest Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin.

Now, it is time for your question! Please feel free to email me, comment or send me a message through Twitter. If I don't know the answer I will be happy to try and figure it out.



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My husband and I have always talked about traveling out west at some point for a family vacation. There is so much to do and see that I wouldn't even know where to start! Mom Central introduced me to Epic Summer by Vail Resorts which takes all of the work out of it for you at a pretty reasonable price!

We generally will spend about $1400-$2000 each summer on a beach house rental to our favorite place on the Outer Banks. Who knew that we could also be traveling to Colorado for about the same price! Not to mention, we wouldn't have to worry about planning things. Epic Summer has either a 4 day or 7 day option. The 4 day is going to run you about $695 for Adults and the 7 day is about $1,195.

Now, I have not personally been on this vacation, but the itinerary looks amazing! Epic Summer has included rafting, horse back riding, picnics and more! They try to focus on some of the more popular outdoor locations like Keystone. This is definitely worth looking into!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog and giveaway campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Epic Summer and Vail Resorts. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.


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Here is a brand new FREE SHIPPING code from Lands' End! Act quick because it expires August 3rd!




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Because of my creative nature I am always up for new options on simple craft ideas for kids! The Smooshie is a great idea because it can work for several different ages!

The super soft body can be changed around to create different creatures. It really is up to the imagination of your child! The best part, no glue, scissors, tape, or markers involved (hallelujah)! Graham loves to change around the eyes, nose, and mouth to create a funny face. The pieces are attached with Velcro so it is very toddler friendly. The body is soft enough to be used as a pillow.

I am impressed with the vivid colors and the overall look of the Smooshie as well. It definitely has its own little personality! You can purchase them from Joann.com. The body of the Smooshie sales for $5.99 and you can purchase additional pieces to interchange for $1.99 a piece! This is a great inexpensive gift idea!



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Owls seem to be all the rage these days! I have been very interested in creating invitations and decorations using PhotoShop lately and came up with these cuties! I hope you enjoy them! The invite would be cute if you printed it out on card stock, or if you cut it out and glued it onto card stock or cardboard.



The cup cake toppers work the same way. Just print them out (8 per sheet) and paste them onto cardboard. Attach a toothpick and you have it! Print the cupcake toppers!

Making your own invitations and decorations is a great way to save money! It is also fun to get your kids involved.



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Time to link up your giveaways and browse! Remember, Jolly Mom and I have this link up every Thursday. If you get a chance, help spread the word!





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I held a giveaway several months ago for the EcoSMART organic insect repellent, but had not tried it until now. If you are an avid reader of Go Graham Go, you will know that the mosquitoes think that I am a tasty snack... more like meal. I walk out the door and have about 10 bites within minutes. My life is miserable in the summer time because of it! I also am very careful about the products I put on mine and my family's skin. Let's face it...they are pesticides! We wash our fruit and vegetables like crazy because of pesticides. Well, I am happy to support EcoSMART and their efforts to keep us safely bug free.

The insect repellent retails for $7 which is a very reasonable price. The best part about it, other than the fact that it is organic, is that as soon as you spray it on it dries! There is absolutely no DEET or any other synthetic chemicals in the bottle. EcoSMART insect repellent works by using plant oils and repels pest for hours. To me, the smell is still pretty strong, but not as bad as the repellents with DEET. You also need to make sure to layer it on pretty thick (it is non-greasy so don't worry about slithering away)!



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A Little Bit About Jessica:


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I'm headed out to the TJ Maxx and Marshalls event in Boston today! Please say a prayer for travel safety for everyone traveling today. I am already nervous because this will be the first time I have ever taken a ride in a taxi, much less try to GET a taxi (Piera tells me all I have to do is stick out my arm...we will see)! I live in the country where we drive ourselves everywhere and I like having that control! I can see it now, "Um.. excuse me.. could you please stop Mr. Cab Driver sir?".

I'll be back to update you on all that is in store for Back to School Savings! With all the budget cuts in the school system where I work I know I can definitely use them!



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There is a new social networking site that will take care of finding what you are interested in! Once you sign up, you can list different key words that explain what you would be looking for or describe you. Then, you will have relevant information that appears on your screen.

One of the key words I entered was parenting which took me to a really informative group called "Gather Moms." I have been browsing around in there a little bit today and have found everything from weight loss and exercise tips to recipes! There is a little bit of something for everyone really. You can organize your life and your friends by creating groups as well.

The best part about Gather is that you actually earn points for the information that you share! You can collect your points and cash them in on gift cards for places like Target, Gap, Home Depot or even cash from PayPal. Sounds like a plan to me!

It is FREE so it is definitely worth a try if you are looking for an option to find and connect!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog and giveaway campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gather. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.


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When stay at home mom of 4, Heather contacted me I knew I had to tell the world about her adorable Etsy shop, Georgia Blue! She started creating hair bows because her youngest daughter, Georgia, was always loosing them. There is a wide selection and the prices are affordable. Browsing around makes me want a little girl to dress up!





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I have been on the lookout recently for free or cheap prints to decorate Graham's new big boy room with. So far I have found some pretty cute downloads that are FREE and print very nicely if you have photo paper. First check out these beautiful vintage posters from HubPages. I downloaded the one from New York because of the airplanes. Now I just need to find a free picture frame!

I also found this adorable blog called A Print A Day. She has some of the most beautiful prints that she creates herself and offers for free downloads! This very modern Paper Airplane print is also something I think I may try to incorporate. She even has an option in pink!


I'd love to see what you are making! Feel free to leave a comment or a link so we can all check it out!



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What's the best thing for a stay at home dad of 4 to do when he has the last name Singer? Make a fun and musically tasty CD for kids! Sweets 'n' Treats is a brand new album by Tracey Singer that will have your kids toes tapping while celebrating "Christmas in July".

This hilarious new album truly has a lively feel with great messages. Each song has a different musical style which will give your child a new experience without getting bored. It feels like Tracey has tapped into the brains of kids with lyrics like, "Lunch lady, lunch lady I know you are gonna try to fill my plate up with your veggie stew. Don't you know that all I wanna pass my lips is a candy bar and some potato chips?". He even address issues like Baggy Pants and no smoking. The "Stinky Smoke" song gets me every time, "You think you are cool the joke is on you! By the time you are 20 you look 82!". I love it!




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Kids bedding is a dime a dozen. Finding affordable kids bedding that actually has style is one in a million! Trust me! I've been looking for several months. When I ran across JoJo Designs there was really no comparison.

Graham was sent the Full/Queen size Aviator 3 piece set. There were 2 shams and a comforter included that retails for only $69.99! That is a great value for a full size set! The simplicity of the design is also a bonus. There is just enough detail without going over board. If you take a look around JoJo Designs you will see that they do a great job with keeping things simple, elegant, and fun.

I love the attention to detail on this set. The adorable vintage airplane appliques are embroidered onto the shams and comforter. Both the shams and the comforter are edged in a super soft micro suede navy blue material. It is gorgeous! I don't know about you, but I am always very frightened when I have to put bedding in the washing machine. So far, I have washed the shams and they washed very easily in our HE washer on the quick cycle using cold water. I simply let them hang to dry and they are as good as new!

JoJo Designs also creates a design that will follow your child from birth to pre-teen years. You can find just about all of the sets in baby, toddler, as well as children's bedding sizes. This could really cut down on costs or decorating rooms as your child grows. Just pick a theme and stick with it! Check out their boutique clothing, baby blankets, and totes for even more elegant bargains.



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One thing every "big kid" room needs is an extra light! You can find night lights just about anywhere, but not like these!

Katsu Designs creates handmade night lights and wall lamps that are beautifully crafted. Graham was sent the Airplane night light. I am extremely impressed with the attention to detail on the painting itself. The plane is flat, but the shadows on the painting makes it appear 3D. It came already assembled and ready to plug in. One word of caution: these night lights are saw cut from aluminum, so I they do have some sharp corners. I would suggest putting the night light in a socket that is located higher than your child's reach until he or she is old enough.

Each night light is individually hand painted by Katsu Designs, so no two are alike. They are perfect for wall ornaments even if you never used it as an actual light. There are so many selections to choose from that are irresistibly cute! You will be sure to find one that suits the little one in your life (as well as one for yourself)! Retailing for $35, they would make a perfect gift idea!



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Thanks to Mom Central, I was able to taste test the new Kellog's Cinnabon Snack Bars! I know what your thinking: Cinnabon = big thighs! You will be happy to know that these yummy treats are only 150 calories a piece with 1 gram of fat and 2 carbohydrates per serving. I love to heat them up in the microwave so I feel as if I am eating the actual Cinnabon bun (warm and gooey)! They definitely taste just as delicious.

I am always looking for quick breakfast solutions, so these are perfect to change up my old Nutrigrain bar/Bagel routine!




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When you move to a "big kid" room you are often left with a lot less space. The bed takes up a majority of the floor and the changing table is no longer available for an added storage unit. Here's what we did in Graham's room to help cure this problem.

The most inexpensive solution I could find for storage happened to be these cube shelves. Right now they have excellent deals on them just about every where because of the back to school sales. They will run you about $49-$59. The cube boxes are about $5-$8 depending on where you shop.

This is a great idea because you eliminate having to buy separate pieces of furniture. I was able to incorporate this storage unit into a toy box, book shelf, and display! I say that is definitely the best bang for your buck! I could have easily spent several hundred dollars on separate pieces (which would not have fit in his room).

My husband also had the very cute idea to spray paint one end with the magnetic spray paint so that Graham could play with alphabet magnets or display his art work! It is a wonderful idea! Now I just need to find some cute alphabet magnets!

So, what storage ideas on a dime do you have? I am always seeking out ways to be creative and save money!



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