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My kids and I are huge fans of Veggie Tales! We have multiple Veggie Tale's music CD's that we listen to frequently, and we have a handful of the Veggie Tales movies as well.  We often borrow Veggie Tales movies from the library, and family members have gifted the kids a few of the movies.  I love that they are fun, good, clean movies that teach the kids a moral lesson or re-tell a Bible story.  I can pop in a Veggie Tales movie and know I don't have to preview it first to make sure it's appropriate for my children.  We all look forward to each story that's told, and love the silly songs that are always in the movies as well.

We were so excited to be able to review the new Veggie Tales movie, Princess and the Pop Star!

Princess Poppyseed’s life on her family’s farm is far from the glamorous world of her favorite pop singer Vanna Banana.  While Princess milks the cows and dreams of a life on stage, Vanna has her own dreams of a life far from the hectic pace of stardom that leaves her feeling alone and lonely.  On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize they look almost exactly alike, which leads to the crazy notion that maybe they could switch lives!  In a flash, the girls’ secret plan is launched and Princess is whisked to her new life as a pop star while Vanna gets to live her dream of a life away from the pressure of fame!  As Princess tries to live up to the demands of being a diva and Vanna learns how to milk the cows, things don’t go as smoothly as they would like!  As each girl realizes the life they longed for doesn’t fulfill all their dreams, they learn that the life God gave them is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed.

This movie could not have come to our house at a more perfect time.  It was just a few short weeks ago I had a conversation with my daughter about God making her the way she was, that she needed to be happy with how He created her and not want to be or look like someone else. It was wonderful to have this story to back up our discussion, for her to see that it's important to see the blessing that our life is to us!

Princess and the Pop Star has become one of our favorite Veggie Tales movies ever!  This movie, like all Veggie Tales movies, has such great music.  My kids have watched it more times than I can count, and they have the songs mostly memorized.  Today while they watched it, Brooke was dancing around the living room and singing during each song, making her brother's crazy.  Truth be told, I often find myself humming the songs from the movie while we are driving or while I am cooking dinner!  This movie, also like all other Veggie Tales movies, has a silly song included! The silly song on this movie is "Astonishing Wigs", and it's just as fun as they all are!  The movie also features a new song "You Never Are" from Francesca Battistelli, an Award winning christian singer.

If you love Veggie Tales, or if you have never seen Veggie Tales and want to know what the fuss is all about, you must get Princess and the Pop Star!  It's fabulous!! We give it 2 thumbs up!

Buy It: Purchase Princess and the Pop Star from Veggie Tales for $14.99!

Alesha was born and raised in Arizona, where she currently resides. She was married in 2003 to her wonderful husband, and God has blessed them with 4 beautiful children. She is blessed to be able to stay at home with them, and has recently begun homeschooling.

Alesha has devoted her life to the Lord, and lives daily for Him. She is very involved with her church, including volunteering as a Jr. Youth Group leader and as a Bible School craft teacher. She also sings in the choir and writes the news for the church newsletter. You can find her at The Jacobsen Family or on twitter @JacobsenFamily.

This product was provided free of charge to Alesha by VeggieTales. These are her honest opinions on the product.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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One thing I really love to give as a gift is a Bible.  But, not just any Bible, one that will work well for the person I have in mind.  If you haven't taken a look at some of the different offerings available lately, here is a great round up of three we were sent for review from Zondervan that are sure to be favorites of yours or a loved one.

The Clutch Bible
Not only does this Bible match my diaper bag (not intended), but it is also very handy!  I carry this with me every single day now.  If I wanted to, I could let this double as my wallet.  There are handy little pockets on the inside that will fit cards and other small items.  The entire Bible zips closed completely.


The Bloom Bible
This Bible is perfect for Mother's Day or any other special occasion for that special lady in your life.  Each Bloom Bible features a leather case with a gorgeous flower detail.  I am going to use this as a special prize for one of my sweet Sunday School students (9th grade girls).

The Liberty Bible
This one was right up my dads alley as it features 12 significant writings from people who were key in American History.  What a great gift for Father's Day or for that history buff!




This product was provided free of charge by Zondervan. 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!

Play kitchens are toys that should be a part of every kids childhood in my opinion.  I remember how much fun I had with my play kitchen growing up, and Graham and Davis definitely love pretend playing in theirs.  I can't believe how far play kitchens have come since my old one!


We were sent the Prepare and Share Play Kitchen for review and the boys have been playing with it every single day.  I was very surprised at how interested Davis has been in this play kitchen as well.  He is almost one, and loves to grab the phone, talk and put it back.  He has even figured out how to use the pots on the burner.  One reason why I think they are so drawn to this kitchen is because of how realistic it is.  Place either the pot, pan, or coffee pot on the large burner and it lights up and makes either a boiling or frying noise.  There are many different places for storage of the included plates, cups, utensils, food and spices.  The refrigerator also has plenty of space to store whatever your kids are cooking up!  There are also a few  knobs for little hands to turn as well.  They will have fun listening to the clicking sounds on the stove knob and washing dishes like mom and dad with the knob on the faucet.  If that's not enough, they can also turn the grinder on the included pepper grinder.





The little details of this kitchen is what sets it apart.  The price is extremely competitive for what is being offered in my opinion ($89.99 at Toys R Us).  All in all, if you are looking for a play kitchen, I would say that the Prepare and Share Play Kitchen is well worth your money and might possibly be the best bang for your buck when compared to other plastic kitchens.

This product was provided free of charge by Step2. 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!

Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

Innovative Kids is the home to so many wonderful toys and educational products for kids.  If you are looking for some unique and quality ideas for upcoming birthday parties or even the holiday season, make sure to check out their selections.  We were recently sent two items that are entertaining both Graham and Davis.


Soft Shapes

Soft Shapes is a Parent's Choice Award Winning Series of toys for babies and toddlers.  This is another one of those products that serves multiple purposes saving you money in the long run.  Soft Shapes offers toys, games, puzzles and books that can all be taken into the bath tub.  We were sent the Soft Shapes Ocean book for review and Davis loves to flip through the pages during bath time, stick the foam characters to the bath wall and carry them around the house.  Graham enjoys telling Davis all about the animals as he reads through the book and hands the foam animals to his brother.  The book and the foam animals all float and even stick to bellies and backs (another way they entertain themselves)!  Check out all of the Soft Shapes products retailing from $6.99-$12.99.

Play, Draw, Create Drawing Kit by Green Start


Electronic games and iPads are definitely cool, but you still can't beat the traditional old marker and white board.  I love to watch Graham sit down and play with this for an hour.  Not only is it helping him with his fine motor skills, but it also promotes parent and child interaction.  The Play, Draw, Create Drawing Kit includes a reusable activity book, white board, markers and magnets in order to create fun shapes and scenes.  Everything folds up into its own case with a handle so that you can take this on the road.  Save money and the Earth by using reusable products.  There are two kits to choose from: Trucks or Princesses.  $16.99.

Again, if you are in the market for something a little more special for a birthday party or surprise, head over to Innovative Kids and take a look at all of the different offerings.  You are not going to be disappointed!



This product was provided free of charge by Innovative Kids. 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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Davis has now moved onto eating regular foods as long as they are soft.  As many doors as that opens, it also means that I have to become a little more creative.  Gone are the days of just processing a fruit or vegetable and here are the days of eating with the family and learning to self feed.  One book I have been going to for tons of inspiration is the Top 100 Pasta Dishes by Annabel Karmel.  I love her food products and really am enjoying this cook book in particular.  This recipe is from that book and is my own quick take on the recipe.  You can purchase this hard cover baby recipe book that includes color pictures from Amazon for $12.32 with FREE Prime shipping right now.  What a great idea for upcoming baby showers or first birthday parties.

Easy Confetti Pasta



Ingredients:
1/4 cup stars pasta or other small pasta
3 tablespoons diced carrot
1/4 cup frozen peas
1 1/2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
Boil the pasta, carrots, and peas in water for 7 minutes.  Drain.  Add the heavy cream and Parmesan and stir until mixed thoroughly. Serve warm.  This makes enough for several servings for baby so you can have some saved for later which saves you valuable time in the kitchen.  Davis absolutely loves this stuff!

More recipes: Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Blessed with Grace and $5 Dinners.

The cook book was provided free of charge and I truly use it daily.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.


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I love everything about Chick-fil-A.  I love the message and philosophy of the company, I love the food and I love the value.  Now I have another reason to respect Chick-fil-A after reading the book written by Founder S. Truett Cathy.

If you are like me and you love to sit down and speak to your elders, you are really going to enjoy reading this book.  So many of the points and examples he brings reminds me of talking to my grandmother.  Because they lived through the Depression, they have a lot of insight on money and how it should be spent and saved.  They also have a valuable insight into what is really important in life.  Here's a hint... it's not money.


Cathy says,“Wealth has the power to build or to destroy. When we use wealth to help people who are in need, we experience tremendous joy. But I’ve seen many people and families damaged by the wealth they have gained because they became complacent or jealous.”

"Wealth: Is It Worth It?" is an extremely quick and easy read.  Grab a cup of coffee and prepare for a conversation with someone who seems to posses great wisdom.  I guess 90 years has earned him that!  The hardcover book would be perfect for gift giving and is available on Amazon for $12.37.

This product was provided free of charge by Chick-fil-A. 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!

Whether you have a Chuck the Truck fan or just a fan of wheels, you are going to want to check out the new line up from Playskool.

Playskool Wheel Pals Animal Tracks


What an adorable way to help develop the fine motor skills so many toddlers and preschoolers are working on.  Just push the little horse with wheels over the ramp and watch him zoom by.  When your kids are more advances they can press down on the tree and watch the horse launch down the path.  As he crosses the apples one disappears.  Playskool Wheel Pals Animal Tracks retail for about $9.99.

Chuck & Friends Fold 'n Go Toys


If you have a Chuck & Friends fan in your house then you are going to want to check these out for summer travels.  These can be folded down and taken with you.  The Tumble Tower Playset ($21.99) is made to look like the one from the movie.  Chuck can ride the lift up to the top and then go tumbling down from ramp to ramp and out the side. The Go Gas Up Garage ($9.99) has sort of the same concept but on a smaller scale.  So, if you are looking for the most portability I would go with the Go Gas Up Garage.  You will just be sacrificing the lift and a few more tumbles.

If you all follow me on Twitter then you know that I was chosen to be a Whirlpool Mom a few weeks ago.  Honestly, I can't even believe that I just typed that line above!  We were so humbled and thankful for the opportunity as our washer was literally being held together with some pieces my husband put together.


Soon I am going to have a full review complete with video on the Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer set.  But, for now I want to share with you one of my favorite features... the apps!  We are definitely living in an app age and what an extremely convenient place to include them.  If you are like me and struggle with the best way to treat stains, you can stop googling and go straight to the washing machine!  With the press of a button you can select what type of stain you are dealing with.  There are several categories to choose from and then sub categories under those.  For instance, the Stain Assist app that I frequently use is the "Children" category.  There is everything from "baby poop" to "Crayons".  I also use the one for outdoor stains quite a bit.  Once I find the stain I'm looking for, it lists out step by step what I need to do.  Because I am standing in my laundry room it is so much more convenient than running back and forth from my computer.


Pair the Stain Assist app with all of the different cycle features and this washing machine is a work horse!  With our old washer I would generally just use the Normal cycle for most loads and adjust the water temperature occasionally.  The new Whirlpool Duet includes specialty cycles that are created just for things like jeans and comforters.  Everyday I learn something new about this pair that makes my life easier and saves our family money.

I'm not the only one in love with this thing.  Graham is fascinated with the sounds (it plays a little tune when it starts and finishes).  Davis enjoys being able to really watch the clothes spin thanks to the wonderful drum lights.  And I love that I can put a load in over night and keep it fresh with the FanFresh option.  Stay tuned for even more detailed reviews and how these two machines, in my opinion, are worth your money.

I wrote this review while participating in a test-drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Whirlpool and received a complimentary Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer to facilitate my review. 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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I know that summer nights will be coming to an end soon, but while the nice weather is still here we are soaking up all the precious time we have.  One thing that Graham really loves to do is catch lightening bugs.  He even asked if he could stay up and catch some tonight.  Well, now there is a cool new toy that you can use to make your own version of lightening bugs!  Have you seen Fyrflyz?

We were sent one of the Fyrflyz for review a few weeks ago and I really think this is something the entire family can enjoy.  While Graham is not quite old enough to make this work properly on his own, he has fun trying and watching dad create fun light shows (ages 8 and up).

Fyrflyz is basically a LED light on two strings.  You simply wind up the strings and apply tension in order to create fun light shows.  There are different tips and tricks on how to make formations listed on the website.  You can even submit your own if you've found a new one.





The Fyrflyz retail for under $10 and can be found on Amazon.  What a great idea for backyard BBQ's or just family fun time.



This product was provided free of charge by Fyrflyz. 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!

So, life just got a little more crazy for me.  I started back to work today.  Believe me, it is an exciting time (the first day of school), but it is also a hectic one... at least on the high school level.  With that said,  I have little to no time to make my office as organized as I would like it to be.  But, I have an awesome idea that I hope to carry out very soon!  It involves my obsession with Instragram.  If you are unfamiliar with this, it is a photo editing app on the iPhone that rocks!  So, armed with my new Scotch Restickable products, I will make the office a little more inviting.

We were sent three of the new Scotch Restickable products through Mom Central for review.  I have to say that I am a sucker for anything that is reusable and makes my life easier as a mom.  The Scotch Restickable products are available in strips, tabs and shapes.  It really just depends upon what your prerogative is as to which one you should use.  They all basically work the same way and they are all reusable.




So with my Scotch Restickable strips in hand, I am going to prepare a Instagram favorites collage on my wall.    Some of my favorite photos are on my phone and I would love to have them on my walls!  All you have to do is peel the backing off the Restickable, place it on your photo and press firmly onto the wall of choice.  I have had no trouble removing them and have even placed them on card stock.  It removes cleanly from the card stock as well as my wall.

Really, the possibilities are limitless with these things!  What a great way to display your children's artwork and pictures.  It is also great for those in middle school and high school.  I know I was constantly looking for cool new ways to decorate my locker when I was in middle school!  What a creative way to showcase your pictures and your friends.  As a mom, I'm glad I don't have magnets as a choking hazard to worry about!  What a great find priced under $5.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Scotch and received Scotch Restickable products to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Graham and handsome Dad!

I can't even wrap my mind around the fact that this will be Graham's last year of preschool.  In just one short year that little boy will be headed to big boy school!  How is that possible?  I remember when I was pregnant with him how everyone would say, "Don't Blink".  I knew it was true, but I think they should've said, "Don't Breathe"!  With the growing comes changes in taste and in decor.  I have slowly been turning his room into one that he can have for years to come.  Let me introduce you to our latest framed artwork from Gallery Direct that could quite possibly be on his wall until he enters college.


Of course, you can always use your own photos, but I decided to go with a stock image available directly on Gallery Direct.  For this picture we decided upon the Canvas art option to give it more of a warm feel.  The picture was already a sepia tone, so warmth just made sense.  We also decided on the Natural Brown frame with Gold Lip in order to accentuate the color combinations.  The result is gorgeous!  Even though Graham's room has an airplane theme, I feel like this will convert nicely with just about anyway he would like to decorate in the future.


Another thing that I really have to brag on about Gallery Direct is that they definitely take pride in their packaging.  The delivery of our picture was left on our porch in the middle of a huge thunderstorm.  We are talking trees falling, rain galore, and high winds.  The outer box was pretty much ruined.  We happened to be out of town so my mother brought it inside and took the outer box off.  It had so many protective layers around it that the picture was not even touched.  No water damage or anything!  It is always nice to know that a company cares for your new purchase as much as you do.  Thank you, Gallery Direct!


Stay tuned for even more options and ways you can make your home or office a more pleasant place to be with Gallery Direct.



This product was provided free of charge by Gallery Direct. 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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Whether you are looking for a creative idea for your child's room, family room or a great way to maximize your space if you are a classroom teacher, you have to check out IdeaPaint!  Honestly, the ideas are endless with this dry erase paint.  The best part is that it actually works.

We were sent a sample of the IdeaPaint to try out in Graham's playhouse.  He has a chalkboard that is hanging, but I am never comfortable with where it is and how it is hanging so I make him use it on the floor.  Of course, this is no fun for him.  With IdeaPaint we were able to take a piece of sheet rock and paint the square.  My husband is going to cut the square and make a frame for it to attach to the wall.


The result was great!  You apply the two part process of paint on your surface and allow it to dry for a week before use.  What you will have in the end is a handy dry erase board wherever it is convenient.  IdeaPaint works with all types of dry erase markers and it erases with ease.  Find IdeaPaint at your local Lowe's.




This product was provided free of charge by IdeaPaint. 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!