| My Mom Spark Reviews

Morena Felting – Felt Friends You Will Love #EtsyShopReview

Morena Felting – Felt Friends You Will Love

Do you or your kids love little figurines they can keep on a shelf and play with when they want? Most of my collectible figurines are off limits for any playtime with the kids. Both of mine, don’t touch mommy’s stuff.

But, what if you could find adorable little figures that are kid-friendly for displaying on a shelf and for tea time with your sweet angels? Morena Felting Etsy Shop creates these types of felt figurines. They are all mouse-themed figures that each come with their own unique story. They are soft with a wire frame on the inside that lets you position them in just the right way for your display in your collection or in a doll house. They are all handmade from the felt to the crochets and knitted clothing.

This adorable felted lady mouse and her child come with a lavender filled carrying bag. When you rub the lavender bag, the delicate fragrance will surround you. The mother stands about 4.5 inches high. The listing is for both of the figures.

One word of caution: these figure are not meant for very young children. But I can see older children playing with these cute mice characters in their dollhouse or for some afternoon tea time.

All felt friends at Morena Felting are handmade by two friends in Serbia who find their art form as a way to succeed in life and business. They carry individual mice characters as well as couples – including a married couple.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Morena Felting. All opinions are 100% mine.

Divine Kidz – Custom Attire that Sparkles

When it comes to dressing my kids, I like for them to show off their own style. But, I am kind of particular about the clothes they wear. For example, outfits have to match. I can’t stand to let them walk out of the house without coordinating their tops & bottoms. We spend a lot of time in the morning as they try to dress themselves and make sure that I am not going to make them change their clothes or their shoes.

For my 7 year old daughter, she is really coming into her own with her style. If it sparkles, she loves it. Adding a little bling to any outfit (for kids or adults) is okay in my book. I love when she and I can agree on sparkly items that are age appropriate, cute and stylish.

Divine Kidz Etsy shop is an adorable place to find custom clothing for your prince or princess. I loved seeing all of the custom bedazzled shoes and jeans for kids. They are just adorable…especially these sparkled Minnie Mouse Converse shoes for an infant. They make me wish we had an infant girl in the family to shop for. These converse come in 11 different color options and are available in any size for infants, toddlers or big kids. They are original Converse shoes that can be customized to your specifications.

Divine Kidz even offers custom Chucks for boys featuring popular Disney Cars characters!

Another piece of custom attire offered by Divine Kidz are distressed jeans for kids of any age. If your diva isn’t patient enough to wait for the distressing to happen by their natural play and everyday wear, Divine Kidz has you covered. They custom distress each pair of jeans so your kids can get that popular aged denim look without waiting for skinned knees and a thousand washes. The jeans are reasonably priced for big kids jeans, too.

If you and your kids are into the latest styles for kids, definitely check out the custom Chucks and distressed denim jeans and send your kids to school in style! You can find Divine Kidz on Etsy with over 80 different custom products. Stop by check them out and order your kiddos some custom clothes for the spring time.

How important is it for you to dress your kids in stylish clothes?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Divine Kidz. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cold Snap Studio – Baby Signs for Your Home

Everyone loves a cute baby. I remember taking my infant out in public and people – strangers – would get so excited to see a new baby they would come over to our family with their hands out ready to touch my brand new bundle of joy. In those early days and months, I knew it was important that we protect our children from unwanted sickness and germs. But, how do you politely tell the sweet grandmotherly figure at church to “Please don’t touch my baby with your stinky hanky”?

These are the realities of a mom of a newborn baby. And if you’ve ever had a preemie, you are even more cautious of germs. Plus, I remember all the other mommy times throughout the early years where I wanted to have a polite way to tell someone “don’t ring the doorbell during nap time” or “please take your shoes off when you come in my house”.

When you have particular rules you’d like people to know about before they enter your personal space, wouldn’t it be nice to have a cute sign that nicely says what you want to say without putting you in an awkward or rude situation?

Cold Snap Studio on Etsy designs these types of signs for mom, dads, and grandparents. They are adorably designed with cute characters and sweet rhymes that make those uncomfortable life preferences for your babies and family a little more bearable.

The sign above is one of Cold Snap Studios's most popular sign for a baby’s car seat. It is so freaking cute and a much nicer way to tell others "Don't Touch the Baby". It comes in a 2 pack and is laminated (but not waterproof). The image is printed on both sides. The 2 pack of baby signs is only $13.

Do you know a mom who is expecting and would love these signs?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Cold Snap Studio. All opinions are 100% mine.

Anniversary Quotes for the One You Love

"All the words in the world could not even begin to describe how deeply I am in love with you, from the first moment I saw you until the never-ending heartbeat you have given me. You are not only my love, but you are my Soul." - by Emily Winters

Finding the right words for the one you love are not always as poetic as you’d hope. When it is your anniversary, you want to have the right words for that special day. You want to tell that special person how much they mean to you and how happy you are that they chose to spend their life with you. Yep, finding the right words for such an important day can be difficult.

So, when you are at a loss for the right words, try Anniversary Quotes for over 16 pages of quotes for husbands, wives, and couples. Each quote conveys just the right words, so you can choose the message that best fits your marriage.

What is your favorite anniversary quotes?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by julianberg. All opinions are 100% mine.

Reference Me Smartphone App with Multiple Uses

Have you ever needed to send a reference for a job or an application and wish you had it right at your fingertips? I know I go searching my smartphone to dig up the right people for the right type of reference. The Reference Me app is coming soon to Android, iPhone and Amazon app stores. This app is designed to store the right references for the right purposes. Whether you have credit references, rental references, business references, personal reference, or employer references, you can keep them all organized in this one simple app. Plus, it allows you to share and request references with a click of the button.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by maxine1969. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe #EtsyShopReview

Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe

There are many things I love about the convenience of modern technology. I read e-books on a regular basis. But, nothing beats the smell of books – old books, new books, library books. There is something nostalgic about holding a book and reading with your kids or curling up with a classic on a rainy spring day.

I remember the library collections of adult and kids books that I loved exploring at my grandparents’ houses. Some of my favorite childhood memories were saved in the form of a book that I now share with my kids. Books have an important role in our lives, whether they are vintage or an e-book. Instilling the love of reading in my kids is one that will shape their future forever.

You don’t find many bookstores anymore – especially vintage books that remind us of generations before. This is one reason I love Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe on Etsy. This Etsy shop is a great little shop where you can find unique items and old books to add to your reading nook. Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe carries a wide variety of vintage books, but they also have new books too.

Shoppe owners, Spencer Madrie and Anne Mote, have a love of books. They pride themselves on curating a collection of unique books that just makes them happy. They say “Collecting books is their business”. It’s a very cool concept.

So, if you are looking for unique books that you can’t find on eBay or just have a love of classics, check out Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe for vintage children’s and adult books. They even carry sets of classics and hard to find classics.

Do you share the classics with your children?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Ol' Curiosities & Book Shoppe. All opinions are 100% mine.

Heart Touching Quotes from Quotes Hunter

“Live beautifully. Dream passionately. Love completely.”

I love using quotes to describe a moment in my life or a feeling I am having that I can’t quite explain. Quotes are a great way to express yourself, your feelings, your motivation, or just to keep you focused on what matters in your life at that moment.

I often find myself searching for the right quote to use in my writing or on my fan pages. Quotes banks are everywhere, but sometimes when it comes to finding the right heart touching quote to describe your love for another human being, you need to have a solid solution for the best quotes. Heart Touching Quotes from Quotes Hunter gives the romantics among us a collection of the best quotes about love. And for those of us who might not be as romantic as the next, these quotes on Quotes Hunter is a great place to find the right words to tell your significant other.

Each of these quotes are expressed in a beautiful graphic. You can find the right inspiration for the moment, the occasion, or the sentiment you are trying to express.

Do you like quotes? What is your favorite love quote?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by julianberg. All opinions are 100% mine.

Providing Personalized Math Instruction for Young Children and Children with Special Needs

Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to accomplish in each subject and for each grade. Recently, a number of States have adopted the same standards for mathematics, called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), to prepare students for success both in college and in the workplace. These standards also apply to students with special needs. However, the process of teaching and assessing these standards, with respect to students with special needs, must incorporate instructional supports and accommodations.

Instructional supports should foster student engagement by allowing multiple, diverse ways for students to act and express their knowledge. Instructional accommodations should allow students to learn within the framework of the CCSS by, for example, enabling adaptations to the material while maintaining the core contents of the standards.

Of special interests are the common core standards in mathematics for primary education. Studies have shown that the quality of early childhood education greatly impacts a child’s potential for increasing their knowledge of math concepts in later years. In the mainstream classroom, tablet devices are increasingly being integrated to provide an interactive experience that enhances learning of math standards. Unfortunately, although there are currently a number of math apps that address common core math standards in the marketplace, there are very few accessible to children with special needs.

Gamification of math content is one solution to this dilemma. Mathematics is present in much of children’s play activities and, in various studies, significant learning benefits have been shown when teachers can follow up with children by reflecting on the mathematical ideas that have emerged in their play. As such, offering gaming apps that embed common core math content within a framework that is familiar to both teachers and children with special needs would provide a dual benefit. Not only would could these math-infused gaming apps engage children with special needs in learning with respect to common core math standards, but they can ensure inclusiveness for all children.

One such math app that addresses this need is OctoPlus, which provides personalized math instruction to young children and children with special needs and integrates various math topics found in the common core math standards. OctoPlus, available on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/octoplus/id959757516?ls=1&mt=8, provides kids with fun, interactive math addition problems that are accessible based on a student’s math skill and disability - whether for regular daily practice or to challenge a student beyond their current skill level.

In fact, in a recent study involving thirty-four participants (“Enhancing Self-Motivation through Design of an Accessible Math App for Children with Special Needs,” Human-Computer Interaction International Conference, 2015), results showed significant measures of self-motivation when using this educational math app. We believe therefore that with the further development of gaming apps such as these, children with special needs can be accommodated into learning and mastery of the new CCSS standards, thus increasing their opportunities for future success.

Guest Post by Ayanna Howard, Ph.D., Zyrobotics, LLC

Cute, Name Brand Kid's Clothes On a Budget!

Let's face it kids can be expensive! They grow so fast and it seems like before one season is over they have already outgrown their clothes and it's time to go shopping again! This expense can multiply if you have multiple children, at multiple ages. It can be a daunting task to try to find kids fashions that are hip, in style and from a good, quality name brand that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

This is where shopping second hand can come in quite handy! Did you know that you can find name brand kids fashions at a fraction of the price? Most children's consignment shops carry all seasons of clothes year round. This is particularly helpful if you are traveling to a location that is warmer or colder than where you live. It can be hard to find a swimsuit in December or a snow jacket in Florida!

Second hand stores are very specific about what types of clothing and brands that they take. They only take gently worn garments in excellent conditions with no stains. So you'll get the best pick every time no need in searching through rows of racks. Sometimes you can even find brand new clothes with tags. Whether for your children or for a friend you’re sure to get huge savings. Shop Online children's consignment, you experience the convenience of shopping from the comfort of your home, usually when the kids are asleep at night!

Liljellybeans is an online children's resale consignment store that offers a wide variety of fashionable name brands that can save you up to 80% off of retail prices! They even offer to USA residents the option to consign your items and earn big. Up to 70% of the sale price of your items with our VIP program. Lil Jelly Beans accepts clothes of all seasons, with no signs of wear, and clothes that are in excellent condition. They have some of the cutest, current styles and a wide variety of brands to choose from. They carry clothing sizes in newborn up to size 12 as well as accessories, shoes, toys and more! Shopping is easy, you can search by size and it will bring up a page of very good photographs as well as a description of the item.

If you are on an extremely tight budget you will want to check out their Bargain Bin Section. The Bargain Bin is where you will find items that have a basic defect such as no label, a missing button or minor fading. You can search for individual items in the Bargain Bin or you can pick up a large bargain box with tops and bottoms for $4-5! These boxes are great for outdoor play clothes that will get stained and worn right away anyways. The prices are even cheaper than picking up play clothes at your local thrift store!

Liljellybeans offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee (this excludes the bargain bin section) and all orders over $50 ship for free. They offer their customers awesome clothing with fantastic prices , so you can purchase at least 10 articles of clothing items for under $50. Normally you would only be able to get an outfit or two at that price from the mall!

If you have never shopped at a second hand shop before and want your kids to have the cutest, trendiest name brand clothes I suggest you check out Liljellybeans. You will be pleasantly surprised at the styles, brands, quality and deeply discounted brands they carry. Plus, imagine how much you can save!

Use Coupon: FREESHIP10 to get 10% off and free shipping off any $15 or more purchase. This is an exclusive coupon offered to My Mom Spark Blog Readers. Enjoy!

About Our Author

This guest post is brought to you by the team from Liljellybeans online consignment shop.

Newly launched RECreACTION app, that records your reactions while you are watching a video on your mobile device.

Initially designed for moms to record those moments when her baby watches cartoons on the mobile device. The reactions of the baby, those smiles, giggles, funny looks can easily be captured, stored and even edited for future share on social media.

“We are certain that everybody will find it’s own way to use RECreACTION. For example we are sure, that musicians will love it, because you can simply record your voice while the music is played in you mobile device. We truly believe many other uses will be found by people around the world.” - says developer of the app.

Easy to use APP that consists of 3 simple buttons. With only on tap you can easily activate the recording of the frontal camera, you then choose the video you want to watch or want to show this video to someone to watch. And guess what? The app records the facial reactions and voice of the person who is watching this video now. The only important note to remember is to have correct direction of the frontal camera to the face of the viewer so you can capture it all.

Later you can easily edit the video, take a snapshot from it, and easily share it on social media.

You may download this app for free at Google play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.recreaction.adson.activities

Soon to be available at Apple Store.

About RECreACTION
The amazing app that allows you to record the facial reactions to the watched video. It gets easier to capture the priceless moments, edit them and share on social media. The app can be downloaded for free at Google Play on https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.recreaction.adson.activities

Super Silky Super Soft Sleeping Mask

As moms, we are tired…all the time. If there is anything I can do to get some rest or sleep better at night, I am open to suggestions. I find that naps during the day are not natural for me because there is about a THOUSAND other things I should be doing. Plus, my body sees daylight and there is basically no way I am catching a few ZZZs even if I wanted to.

In my quest to find more sleep, I decided getting better sleep was my answer. Enter the Super Silky Super Soft Sleeping Mask from 40 Winks. This light weight sleep mask is exactly what I need to encourage my body to slow down and rest even on the brightest of North Carolina days. The mask blocks out all the light so my body can relax and fall into a gently sleep.

This mask also comes with ear plugs and a carry case. The earplugs are great if you have a noisy home. And the carrying case makes travel easy for those nights on the road.

Do you use a sleeping mask to help you sleep better at night?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by gange10. All opinions are 100% mine.

My PAL Jumper the Frog

Do you ever get stuck on what to buy for a new baby or even a 1^st birthday party? Especially since my kids are slightly older, I struggle with what is appropriate for kids. I’m always a big fan of learning toys or anything that will stimulate their development. But what is fun and cool for an infant?

Recenty I was introduced to My PAL Jumper the Frog. He is a super cute baby toy for infants from 9 months to 3 years old. Jumper the Frog offers educational benefits too. With shapes and numbers on his hands, plus all the different colors, textures and shapes, Jumpers is a great plush toy to give you a young child.

So, if you have a baby shower or a 1^st birthday party to attend, check out My PAL Jumper for a great gift idea that will fun for mom, dad, and baby! He is available on Amazon and is Prime qualified!

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by bugehubi. All opinions are 100% mine.

Bashabaloo – Birthday Surprise Ball Gift

I rack my brain every time I plan my kids’ birthday party looking for the right balance of fun chotchkies that are on theme for the party. I always end up with over-filled goody bags from Party City or the Dollar Store and I’ve spent hours collecting everything followed by hours of stuffing bags. While not the most boring task of all time, but it takes time to assemble these bags.

It’s time for a new and unique way to give kid’s their party bags. Enter Bashabaloo Etsy Shop. Bashabaloo has a fun and interactive gift ball that is designed to let kids unwrap layers that reveal fun gifts at each turn. These bright colored balls are so much fun…for the kids and the parents.

Each Bashabaloo gift ball comes with 10-15 fun gifts wrapped up in the layers of the ball. Plus, you can customize the items and colors of the ball so you get exactly what you want in the gift ball.

The owner of Bashabaloo, Katie Mullins, creates tons of fun party favors for birthdays, baby showers, and more. She even has Gender Reveal poppers for baby showers. Katie has a great sense of party favors and decorations that make it a great stop for any mom planning a party or shower.

But, back to the Birthday Surprise Balls, they are a ton of fun. I can see ordering at least one for my birthday prince or princess customized with their names. I can also see ordering one for every party guest to also unwrap either at the party or at home. They are such great party favors and truly a unique spin on traditional party favors. Each Bashabaloo Birthday Surprise Ball Gift only costs $18.

Katie has made a great video that shows exactly how the Birthday Gift Ball works. You have to take a couple minutes to watch and really see how cool the birthday gift ball can be. Video: https://vimeo.com/112774075

What do you think? Would you order a Birthday Gift Ball from Bashabaloo?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Bashabaloo. All opinions are 100% mine.

Why Mom Friends Matter #GuestPost

Why Mom Friends Matter

Did you know mom friends are like insulation against mom shaming? Moms in the media and in society, too, are darned if they do and darned if they don't. Breast or formula, co-sleeper or crib, wear the baby or push baby in a pram… there's always someone ready to jump up and criticize how you mother. Sometimes that someone is even another mom!

But when you have plenty of moms friends, that criticism rolls off your back like water off a duck. You may not agree with your mom friends on every point, but seeing eye to eye isn’t everything. Mom friends support each other and sympathize, listen and offer the kind of advice only other mamas can give. And they don't tear each other down when they disagree.

That's not all mom friends do, though! They:

Celebrate your choices… and that means you don’t have to worry about the people who don't. It’s hard to let an angry blog post or Facebook comment shake you up when you know your mom friends have your back.

Offer different perspectives… without judging. Hot button topics don't cause fallouts among friends. You can discuss things like vaccines and circumcision without yelling, name calling, or irreparable damage to your relationships.

Help when things go wrong… it's a lot easier to get up, brush yourself off, and keep on mothering when you have a solid network of support. Mom friends never say "I told you so!"

Open your eyes to different ideas… there are so many ways to tackle motherhood and most of them result in happy, healthy kids. You may practice one parenting style but that doesn't mean you can't borrow some moves from a mom who practices another.

Show you that differences are okay… having lots of different kinds of mom friends is the quickest way to figure out that parenting styles are sometimes a lot less important than just loving your kids.

Help you see when you’re shaming yourself… they know you’re awesome so when you're having a bad day or your kids are being terrible, your mom friends are the ones who will remind you how great you really are.

That's why as hard as it can be to meet moms when you're exhausted and overwhelmed by motherhood, it's worth the time and the trouble. So what if there are people out there who want to shame moms for doing the best they can? The moms who matter will always be there to tell you you're doing a great job.

About Our Guest Author:

Christa Terry is mom to two rather small but incredibly loud humans and is also one of the founders of Mom Meet Mom, a desktop app that helps mom friends meet. She blogs at Hello, Mamas! (pro) and I Know How Babby Is Formed (personal) when she's not otherwise busy making working motherhood look easy. She can also tap dance and speak German, which she'd like to believe makes her sound interesting but probably just makes her sound weird.

My Mom Spark Reviews

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Morena Felting – Felt Friends You Will Love #EtsyShopReview

Morena Felting – Felt Friends You Will Love

Divine Kidz – Custom Attire that Sparkles #EtsyShopReview

Divine Kidz – Custom Attire that Sparkles

Cold Snap Studio – Baby Signs for Your Home #EtsyShopReview

Cold Snap Studio – Baby Signs for Your Home