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

I think maybe St. Patrick's Day comes right after Valentine's Day for a reason!  So we can reuse all of our heart shaped goodies!  This simple craft idea will allow you to create a shamrock stamp to use on cards and gifts.  The best part is that it is cheap and fun!



What you will need:
1 potato (doesn't really matter the variety)
1 heart shaped cookie cutter (size depends on your project)
Green acrylic paint
Paint brush

Instructions:
slice your potato into fourths.  This way you are sure to get a slice that is fairly even and not super thick.  Take your heart shaped cookie cutter and press it into your best slice (most even).  Make sure your slice of potato is thick enough to hold onto like a stamp. 



Next, take you paint brush and apply a layer of paint to the heart shaped potato cut out.  I found that this method works better than dipping it.  If you do dip it, make sure to clear off excess before stamping. 



Begin stamping your paper with the heart in a shamrock pattern.  Use your paint brush to add a swoosh for the stem!

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I try very hard not to spend a lot of money on clothes for the boys.  Why?  Because they are growing and we go through clothes like crazy!  One brand I have been introduced to that I absolutely adore is Tea.  Of course, they are not always super cheap, but after seeing the quality of the clothing I know why.  It is not every day I would spend $21 on a graphic tee, but I do splurge on special items on occasion.  Believe me, if ever there was a place to splurge on children's clothing, Tea would be that place!



We were sent several of the graphic tees from Tea's new collection for spring.  As soon as they arrived I knew the designers must have little boys of their own.  Graham was immediately drawn to the colors and illustrations on these gorgeous tees.  I was drawn to the weight of the fabric: light yet durable (we all know how important durability is when you have a 3.5 year old).  His favorite shirt is the Lagarto Graphic Tee that features what looks like a lizard crawling across the shoulder.  How fun!  The Tortuga Graphic Tee has a similar style with the turtle spanning across the front and back of the shirt.  The Construccion Graphic Tee was a must for my little builder!  I like how it is fun enough for kids, but classy enough for mom.  Most of the new graphic tees are about $21.  You can find older collections on sale for less from time to time.



We were also sent a pair of the Patch Pocket Shorts in the color toast.  These shorts feature an elastic waistband which makes life easier in this house.  The fabric is 100% cotton which is perfect for playing outside on hot days.  Comfort is not an option for Graham, so he pretty much lives in 100% cotton shorts in the spring and summer.  The Patch Pocket Shorts retail for $22.00 and are also available in the color army.




It really is hard to find great boy's clothing that stands out from the rest.  Tea does a great job in this department.  Of course, if you have a little girl, you really must check out what they have to offer!  There are so many adorable sets.  Davis even owns (hand-me-down) one of the Tea kimono style shirts and it is one of my favorite shirts for him.

This product was provided free of charge by Tea Collection. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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One of Graham's most cherished books is The Little Engine That Could.  He loves all things train, and this story always makes him smile.  When I heard that there was going to be a movie that was related to this book I knew Graham would love it... and I was right!



We were sent the screener in order to watch The Little Engine That Could before it hits the store shelves.  I have to say, this is a must buy!  Now, don't be too disappointed that the movie isn't exactly like the book (what movie is?).  This movie takes the story of The Little Engine That Could to a whole new level with some of the same familiar characters from the book and others added in.

Synopsis from Universal:

 When Little Engine (Alyson Stoner, Cheaper by the Dozen) must leave Dreamland to deliver toys into the real world, she sets her fears aside and learns that with a little determination and courage, anything is possible. Featuring an all-star cast, including Whoopi Goldberg (The View), Jamie Lee Curtis (Freaky Friday), Corbin Bleu (High School Musical) and Brenda Song (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody), this “fun family film” (Francine Brokaw, Los Angeles Family Magazine) is one you’ll enjoy again and again.

What we love:
I really enjoy the message behind this movie.  Of course, it is the same message as the book, but it portrays this not only in the Little Engine, but also in "the real boy".  The message of believing in yourself and never giving up is one that will never grow old.  I also really enjoy the vivid graphics of this movie.  Graham's favorite character is Ace the airplane who zips and zooms around the screen in great action, color, and form.

What to be aware of:
There is only one part in the movie that is slightly concerning as far as being too much for little ones.  The Nightmare Train apprehends The Little Engine's passengers at one point in a spooky part of the tracks.  Graham is almost four and still makes sure I am nearby when this part of the movie comes on.  The Nightmare Train has some pretty scary facial animations and intimidating voice that might be a bit much for very young kids.  Again, Graham still loves this movie and would watch it multiple times a day if I let him... so no HUGE scary factor.

The Little Engine That Could will be available for purchase March 22nd for $19.98.   It is actually available for pre-order for only $14.99 at BestBuy.com.  Also, for every copy of the DVD purchased, $.50 will be donated to Starlight Children's Foundation.  Overall, I would say that this is in our top 10 movies for Graham to watch!


This product was provided free of charge by Universal. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Spring is right around the corner and we couldn't be more thrilled!  We have so many wonderful things planned for this spring and summer and we are anxious to get to work.  One of the things I will be doing is simplifying life in our house by re-organizing, de-cluttering, and cleaning.  It is amazing what difference a little organization can make.



My plan is to go through our house one room at a time and make it better.  We already started in the kitchen a few weeks ago and I will be sharing my ideas with you soon.  The truth is, most families probably do not need half of what is in their kitchens I would imagine.  That was the case for us!



My husband is also busy building a play fort/swing/slide/sandbox for Graham and Davis.  He will be guest blogging in the coming weeks about how to accomplish this (a lot less than the store bought play areas).  We are going to be starting up our square foot garden as well.  This year I plan to keep you guys more updated on it (as I will not be 9 months pregnant trying to tend to it)!  I plan on planting most of Davis's baby food.  We already have a nice supply of sweet potatoes in the freezer for him!  Yay!


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Every day there are children in your neighborhood and in your children's schools that are going hungry.  We all know that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.  It is sad to think about the fact that so many do not have the opportunity to have a nutritious start to their day.  I actually am thankful for what school systems do because sometimes this is the only chance some kids get for food at least two times a day for five days a week.



How You Can Help
Kellogg's has teamed up with Action for Healthy Kids and hopes to share one million breakfasts by the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year with the Share Your Breakfast program.  How can you help?  it is so easy!  From now until July 31, 2011 you can upload a photo of your breakfast to the Share Your Breakfast website or text the word SHARE along with a photo or description to 21534*.   You can also post a description of your breakfast on the website.  Every time you share your breakfast, Kellogg's will donate the monetary equivalent of a healthy breakfast to Action for Healthy Kids.

Join Me for a Virtual Breakfast
I am delighted to be attending and helping host a virtual breakfast at The Motherhood next week.  I hope you can join me as we talk to experts involved in the Share Your Breakfast campaign.  If you can't attend feel free to keep up with the Twitter chatter by using #ShareUrBreakfast.  You can also submit a question at the Virtual Breakfast page right now!

Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: http://www.themotherhood.com/talk/show/id/62163
What: Join Trinh Le, senior brand manager at Kellogg, and Dr. Reginald Washington, chair of the board of Action for Healthy Kids (http://www.actionforhealthykids.org), to chat about the Share Your Breakfast program and what they are doing to help end childhood hunger in the United States.


This campaign is sponsored by Kellogg's and The Motherhood. These are my honest opinions.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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I just received word about a film that looks like it may be pretty cute and it is coming out this Spring.  It is called RIO and features the voices of Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx and more.  RIO comes from the creators of Ice Age and features some friendly birds!





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Learning to drink from a cup is not an easy task with little kids.  Graham used his sippy cup for what seemed like forever because of this.  If you are looking for a quality training cup for little hands, Baby Bjorn has a wonderful product you should check out.  In April, Baby Bjorn will be releasing two new colors: pink and blue.  This cup has gone through 2 years worth of testing and trials to become what it is and it shows!



We were sent the Baby Bjorn cup in green for review.  Of course, Graham is already drinking out of regular cups with ease, but this cup is definitely going to be coming in handy for Davis!  The cup lends itself well to appealing to kids senses.  Graham was immediately drawn to the look of the cup and wanted to use it right away.  I was immediately drawn to the quality construction.  The bottom has a gripping material that keeps the cup in place with shaky little hands.  I also appreciate the graduated markings on the side that hold up to 4 ounces of liquid.  Because the base is wide and the cup widens at the top, the entire product remains stable on the table.  The smooth texture of the cup is also appealing to babies and children.



I'm already a Baby Bjorn fan when it comes to their Potty Chair and their Travel Light Crib (must haves in my opinion).  Now, I'm adding the Baby Bjorn Cup to the list of my favorite feeding products.  You will find this product in local retail stores very soon!


This product was provided free of charge by BabyBjorn. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

Keeping up with a newborn baby can prove to be challenging in the beginning.  I know that with Davis, it was even harder because I also had a 3 year old who needed my attention.  Trust me, it was easier knowing what to expect, but harder to find time to get everything done and develop schedules.  I downloaded a few free apps to help me in the beginning, but Similac has come out with an app that is FREE and covers all the bases.



The Similac Baby Journal actually gives you the option of entering your baby's profile information (age and growth stats).  You can even upload your baby's photo.  From there you can keep track of feedings along with stats.  Choose from breastfeeding or bottle feeding.  What I love the most about the breastfeeding app is that it allows you to track what side you ended on as well as the time spent nursing.  This was what I had the hardest time keeping up with in the beginning.  The Similac Baby Journal also allows you to track sleeping patterns.  Need to keep up with diaper changes?  This app has you covered in that department as well.  What's more is that you can also choose the color of the diaper and if they did a #1 or a #2.



Once you are developing patterns you can even email the stats to yourself, a baby sitter, or anyone else who may need to know.  If you are looking for a free baby journal app, I really feel like this is a simple yet all inclusive app that has you covered (especially those first few weeks).



I was compensated by Collective Bias for my time on this post. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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It seems like just about every Friday night is a movie night for us.  This is something new since Graham is starting to enjoy movies.  It is always an easy and cheap way to do something fun together.  Graham also really enjoys a bowl of popcorn (so much so that he asks for it anytime a movie is on)!  We decided to get rid of Direct TV last year in order to save money, so movies are a BIG part of our "entertainment" lives now.  What could be cheaper than a bag of popcorn, a movie, and maybe a fun family game?  There is definitely a new perspective on fun nights when you have kids and a limited budget and we love every minute of it!  Right now, Toy Story 3 still ranks amongst the most highly watched film in this house.  How about yours?

Graham and his cousins this past weekend

Pop & Win Sweepstakes
Some of the popcorn we love to inhale is Orville Redenbacher's Butter flavored (I know... not the most nutritious choice... but it's family fun night)!  Orville Redenbacher's is holding a Pop & Win Sweepstakes right now that has specially marked bags of popcorn that reveal codes once popped (heat activated).  If you are a winner  you just visit the Pop & Win website and enter your code to reveal your prize.  One in six bags wins from several fun prizes.  There are three grand prizes that consist of bundles worth $10,000 (Game Night, Movie Night, Social Night) .  We are talking things like laptops, HDTVS, Wii Game Consles and more!  Check out all the prizes at the Pop & Win website.


A prize pack was provided free of charge by ConAgra Foods. These are my honest opinions on the product.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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You may remember my review of the Leapster Explorer last year.  This is still one of Graham's favorite things to play with which is saying a lot for a "gadgety" product.  He is more of an imaginative player, but he really enjoys the Explorer.  It is always our go to item for road trips as well (or snow days at mommy's office).  If you have the Leapster Explorer you may have seen the Camera and Video Recorder accessory in stores.  This has been Graham's latest infatuation!  Taking pictures of everyone and everything!



We were sent the Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder for review several months ago.  Since then, Graham has become a pro at using it!  If you are wondering if a 3.5 year old would be able to operate this device the proof is in the video below.  Graham knows how to access the camera, video camera, edit pictures and even record his voice.  Now, if your child is older they are definitely going to be able to use this accessory to its full potential, but for Graham, this is enough for now.




Here's what you will find on the Camera Video Recorder Accessory:
• Take, store and edit up to 1,000 photos.
• Stretch, stamp and draw on pictures to personalize them (Graham's favorite part).
• Create puzzles or use photos to tell a story.
• Turn photos into characters to zap letters or numbers in fun activities.

The size of the camera is very small in my opinion which can be good and bad.  It's good because it doesn't make the Leapster Explorer extremely cumbersome for smaller hands, but you better keep it in a safe location so it is not lost!  We just keep ours connected to the Explorer (we already had one MIA incident and learned our lesson).

You can purchase the Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder for about $24.99 which is a reasonable price in my opinion.  I have seen them in several different retail stores around town or you can purchase online.

This product was provided free of charge by LeapFrog. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

I love how Disney keeps adding classics to their Blu-ray collection!  Next week you will have the chance to pick up one of my favorites, Bambi, on Blu-ray/DVD combo packs in a special Diamond Edition.

We were sent the new Diamond Edition combo pack for review and Graham has really been enjoying it.  What a delight to be able to sit down and share a favorite movie from my childhood with my son!  What is even more exciting about the Bambi Diamond Edition is that Disney is releasing their "Second Screen" technology for the very first time.  What is "Second Screen" technology you ask?  It is an app that can be downloaded to your iPad or Internet connected computer that allows you to interact with the movie by syncing the two together.  There are animated flipbooks, galleries, photos, trivia and  more.  Of course the newly released Bambi will also have several fun Bonus Features for your family: Backstage Disney (Inside Walt's Story Meetings-Enhanced Edition, 2 never before seen deleted scenes, deleted song, Blu-ray Galleries), Family Play games and activities, and more!



Look for more Disney Blu-ray Diamond Collection DVDs to hit store shelves as the years go by!  They will be Disney's most prestigious animated classics.  They will hold the highest level of picture and sound and feature all sorts of amazing bonus features and content.  If you are holding out for the DVD only edition of Bambi you will be waiting another 7 weeks (April 19th to be exact).




Pick up Bambi Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo packs at retail stores near you starting March 1st for about $39.99.  What a wonderful gift idea and fun way to celebrate spring which is right around the corner!  If you are looking for some fun Bambi craft ideas to share with your kids, Disney Family has some cute ones!

This product was provided free of charge by Disney. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

 Here is a delicious alternative to regular old oatmeal!  This serves up almost like coffee cake.  Graham and I enjoyed it so much yesterday morning that this has been added to our list of favorites.  Just mix it together the night before, refrigerate, then pop in the oven when you wake up!


Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation:
Mix together oil and sugar. Mix in eggs, milk, salt, baking powder, oatmeal. Beat well then stir in raisins (you can leave out raisins if you are not a fan). Pour into a lightly greased pan (I used a cake pan). Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Refrigerate overnight. 

The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for about 35 minutes or until firm.  Make sure to serve this hot!  I love eating it topped with extra raisins.

Fore more recipes: Alli-n-Son, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Life as Mom, A Beautiful Mess, $5 Dinners, Blessed with Grace

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If you frequent this blog you know what huge fans we are of Kidorable!  I love their styles and unique gift ideas.  We were recently sent a pair of rain boots from their newest collection: Ballerina!  Graham's friend Claire looks absolutely adorable in these new boots.  These are going to be perfect for upcoming rain showers (which are thankfully coming soon)!  We are in desperate need of Spring around here.



The Ballerina Style boots are made from natural rubber and feature a 3D, two-tone look.  The pink laces around the tops of the boots to give the effect of actual ballerina slippers.  They are easy for Claire to slip off and on and are extremely easy to clean.  My favorite details are the sparkles that are illustrated randomly on the outside!

Your little Ballerina will have fun splish-splashing in puddles with these whimsical boots!  Pick them up for $29 at Kidorable.com.  While you are there, check out the other Ballerina style products (rain jacket, umbrella, backpack and hanger set).  Become a fan of Kidorable on Facebook and submit your child's artwork for a chance to win your favorite set!  Find out more details here.


This product was provided free of charge by Kidorable. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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Ester-C launched a contest February 1st that allows you to recognize all of the important "moms" in your life with the 24/7 Mom Contest!  We are all round the clock moms right?  I mean, I often find myself saying that moms never get a sick day.  Even when we are sick we still have babies to take care of, feed, play with, love on (sometimes they are sick at the same time).  Even though it is tough, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

For your chance to win a 7 Day Cruise to the Mediterranean "like" Ester-C on Facebook or head to the Ester-C website for more details.  From there you will be able to submit your essay or video on YOUR 24/7 mom!  This contest ends April 13th.  Honestly, I could go for the second prize of 24 days of house cleaning!  PLEASE!

Stay tuned as I will be sharing my own experience using Ester-C.  They graciously sent over a 3 month supply so that I can really put it to the test for you guys.


This product was provided free of charge by Ester-C as well as a gift card to thank me for spreading the word. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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