Saturday, April 18, 2009

Flashcard Zoo review and giveaway!!!



Flashcards are some of my favorite tools to use when teaching my children. I have to be honest with you though, "I have gone through several packs of flashcards". Even the Baby Einstein packs that say "childproof", they were destroyed and bent within a matter of months. I recently found flashcards that not only are TRULY childproof, but they are meant for the growing child. Not only will Flashcard Zoo's cards teach your younger children new letter's and words to associate them with, they will help your child understand sounds and practice writing.

My youngest who is barely learning to speak enjoys looking at the pictures and trying to say what they are. I don't have to worry about her holding them or getting drool all over. These cards are not only sturdy form their laminate protection, but waterproof.

My oldest child is just starting to learn to write. He always hated when I told him we were going to practice writing. Now He loves it. For some reason he thinks it is much more fun to pull out his washable markers and practice on the back of each card. The back of each card includes the letter and has guiding arrows and numbers to help the child know where the starting and ending point of each letter is. Below is a blank line where the child can practice what they learned with no help. I even found this useful for me. I find that when I teach my son, I like to take short cuts that will most likely only help my son build bad habits in writing. Now I know the correct way to help him.



Flashcard Zoo is a the ONLY flashcards as of now that I recommend. Honestly. Shannah Pace, the creator, has really taken the time to make these cards last a lifetime. She understands how destructive children can be and the importance of teaching them visually and using the hands on approach. As for the back of the card and when writing, it is recommended that you use washable markers or crayons. To wipe them off you can use a slightly wet paper towel or sponge. If they are going to continue to practice on the same card have s dry paper towel near them so they can dry the card after cleaning. This will prevent the marker form getting any water on it.

Flashcard Zoo number cards have been used as party favors. As of now Flashcard Zoo is offering $2 off each set of number cards if you purchase More then 5 sets. These are party favors moms won't throw away. To get an even bigger discount, if you order a pack of the alphabet cards for the birthday bot or girl with your party favors, 5you get a 20% discount. Just email Shannah through Etsy to discuss the birthday order and she will create a custom listing.

Other then birthdays these cards are GREAT for the bathtub with bathtub crayons, for backseat entertainment on road trips and fantastic to take to restaurants and church to keep them occupied and quiet. They are also good at keeping train tracks level on the carpet, and for otherwise keeping them occupied long enough that you might get to use the bathroom by yourself and MAYBE even Tweet a few times.

When you order your Flashcard Zoo cards you will have a great selection to choose from and even the option to customize. All orders will also include a drawstring bag to hold your cards.

Giveaway: Flashcard Zoo will be giving away a prepacked set of the winners choice (Faves, Mostly Animals, Boy set or Girl set).

To enter: Go visit Flashcard Zoo and look around. Come back and tell me what set you would choose and who you would give it to.

*Bonus Entries*
-Add my button
-Subscribe to my feed
-Post this giveaway on your blog, twitter or facebook!

Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!

Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to US and Canada residents.

Giveaway Ends: May 6

Friday, April 17, 2009

Current giveaways and Mr. Linky with MORE!!!

Current Giveaways !

*ProActive Parenting full seminar pack ($149.9 value)
*Slim Perfect swimwear and activewear
*ZoomAlbum photo book kit!


To go to Mr. Linky click here

Some Deals of the Day...

I actually am unaware how long all of these deals last, but they are great so hurry on over before there gone!

DisneyShopping.com is offering an extra 25% off already reduced prices.
Code: EXTRA25 This is for Extra 25% off Already-Reduced Prices (excludes outlet) - exp 04/19/09
SHIPTODAY is for $5 Shipping on your order of $89 or more - exp 04/19/09

Miley Stewart Tee for Tweens
Sale: $3.99
Was:$9.95
Add extra 25 % off and get it for $2.99

At Buys.com you can get this Silver Digital Photo Frame Keychain with shipping for $10! This was a $49.99 value.

Nextar LCD Silver Digital Photo Frame Keychain - N1-510 SILVER



Shutterfly is offering FREE prints. 25 FREE 4x5 prints for New Members. Plus New and Old member can get 50 FREE prints with the code FREEPRINTS !
Sign up Here or Login Here to upload and get your FREE prints.

And yet another FREE breakfast from IKEA through April 19, 2009.

Mr. Linky and VGNO!

Here's where you can find all of those great giveaways around the bloggersphere! If your in need of aome GIRL ONLY time, head on over to Ann's Virtual Girls Night Out. One of my favorite places to be on Friday.

Here are "Catch the Drifts..." CURRENT GIVEAWAYS.

*ProActive Parenting full seminar pack ($149.9 value)
*Slim Perfect swimwear and activewear
*ZoomAlbum photo book kit!

Oh, and here is something else I am looking forward to in the VERY NEAR FUTURE! Oh ya, I am going on a curise. I am SOOooo EXCITED!


Now for MORE amazing giveaways!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Things to look forward to today on tax day!

There really is something to look forward to today April 15, 2009... Some great deals and offers from some of our local stores.
*Be sure to check before hand if your local store is participating!

Maggie Moo's
Is offering ONE FREE SCOOP per customer!

PF Chang ’s China Bistro
P.F. Chang's is going to let you take 15% off the total bill today when you dine with them.

Chick Filet
Has a Buy any item and bring your receipt back in the next 30 days to get the same item FREE

Cinnabon
Stop by Cinnabon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for FREE cinnamon-roll bites!

Jacuzzi
The Tax Relief Sale offers savings of up to $2,000 off on select models purchased on or before April 15.

Taco Del Mar
Sign up online to receive a coupon for a FREE TACO (regularly $1.89) during the “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion.

I think I am going to head over to Chick Filet and then to Maggie Moos for ice cream. I am loving Tax Day this year! ;)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Just to post....


So I have been dying to post about something, anything actually. Just something other then reviews, giveaways or deals. Although these do tend to be some of the more exciting post that take place on Catch the Drift... I just want to write something new for a change. My biggest problem has been major writers block. I think most of it has to be from all of the other blogger and personal events in my life right now. All good events of course, but they do take a load of my mind and thoughts. So instead of coming up with an incredible post to share with you I decided to bore you with this post about how I would like to post. It is all nonsense really.

I would however like to mention something fun I am planning on getting up this next week. A recipe exchange. I love finding new recipes and would love to hear some of your favorites (Maybe you can even share your family secret recipes). I want to make this easy and have all the recipes available for everyone to view. So Mr. Linky will be our guide on this one. Start thinking of those recipes and I will let you know when I am ready for them. Basically I will ask that you post your favorite recipe on your site and then add the link and recipe name on Mr. Linky. I may have a few different Linky's categorize so you will know where to find main courses, desserts etc. This also will give you the option to copy and paste some of your favorite recipes and add then to your recipe files.

Well It is getting late and I must get some sleep. After this month I hope to be recharged and ready with some more fun ideas and post. Things have been a little slow, but I promise you it is just a temporary thing while I try to get through this month full of the craziest schedule ever. Seriously my life is crazy until the first of May. So until then bare with me and enjoy the upcoming deals, reviews, giveaways and the Recipe Swap!

Winner of Paper Shouts!

Congrats #12 MommySweeps and one last Thanks you to "Extraordinary Mothers" and Paper Shouts for this GREAT giveaway!

ZoomAlbum review and giveaway! CLOSED


Photos are always a great way to put a smile on ones face. The faces and memories a photo can hold is priceless. I love my ZoomAlbum Book kit. ZoomAlbum is a small professional looking portable album that I can create in my own home. Each booklet holds 12 photo pages and is made to keep your photos lasting. These mini albums are the perfect gift for anyone. Any user to create a handmade gift or keepsake using the familiar technologies found in most households today: a PC, digital camera, camera phone or scanner, and a color Inkjet printer. Grandparents will love carrying these in their purses and while traveling. It gives them a great way to show off their grandchildren. If you have a bunch of long time girlfriends that you are wanting to find the perfect gift for. Just choose 12 of your favorite memories and pictures of each other and you can create "Friends Forever" memory album. Zoom Album photo books are perfect for birthdays, christmas, fathers day and Mothers Day (hint hint)!

Zoom Album allows you to edit and add text to your photos. I was a little worries about how easy this really would be. In all honesty it wasn't all that difficult. My printer had a couple of issues (Which I was informed HP sometimes does), but I just switched my setting to a "semi-gloss" photo paper and everything was corrected. Once all of my pictures where printed, the whole process of putting the book together was under 20 minutes. Most of this was because I was still reading the directions being cautious with each step. Now that I know what I am doing this process will be done in just a few minutes. Overall this is was very easy and fun!




Special through April 30: Right now you can get any ZoomAlbum kit for $23.96. Usually the prices are from $29.95-$32.95, that is a GREAT saving! The kits include the disk to download the program and all of the supplies needed for 3 Color or Photo Cover 3" x 3" Photo Albums. Refills are also on sale so head on over to check this deal out!

Before I move on to the giveaway I also have to point out that ZoomAlbum also opens opportunity for you to earn money. Wether you are a blogger or someone who loves photos, ZoomAlbum wants you to benefit from spreading the word. One opportunity is by becoming a Photobook Coach. You can go to the site to learn more or email them if you have further questions.

Giveaway: One winner will get a Photo Cover Photo Album Kit!

To Enter: Go to ZoomAlbum and find the closest retailer to you. If there are no retailers in your state then share with me what kind of album you would make and who it would be for.

*Bonus Entries*
-Add my button
-Subscribe to my feed
-Post this giveaway on your blog, twitter or facebook!

Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!

Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened worldwide!

Giveaway Ends: April 24, 2009

Monday, April 13, 2009

ProActive Parenting Advice....


Sharon, the author and creator of ProActive parenting shared with me this article she wrote called "Power Struggles: Once it begins how do I stop it? ". She graciously has allowed me to post it up to share with all of you. I am very excited to read this one. I think my kids and I have power struggles throughout most of the week. I better get reading...

Go check it out. By reading this you will see that there are other ways to handle whining and become familiar with ProActive Parenting style.

Also don't forget about the wonderful ProActive Parenting Giveaway!

Article:

Power Struggles: Once it begins how do I stop it?


It can happen anywhere and at anytime. A child screams his demands and his parent feels overwhelmed, embarrassed or angry. Mom increases the intensity of her reaction because she knows what’s coming—a power struggle. Her son wants to be heard so he continues the negotiating and arguing. Now both parent and child are loudly trying to make their point and a power struggle has begun.

• Why doesn’t the arguing and negotiating stop when a parent says, “stop it now”?
The short answer is your child is still learning and your reaction is one of the things teaching him.

When a parent increases the intensity of her reaction to stop a power struggle it can scare a child. Toddlers and preschoolers tend to revert back to a slightly younger age when they are really emotional. A parent’s big reaction can push a wee one over the edge emotionally causing a power struggle to get bigger or morph right into a frightened tantrum.

The other thing that could happen is due to immature understanding; a young preschooler can view a parent’s reaction as a form of teaching. They may misinterpret your reaction as “Oh, so this is how you’re supposed to behave” and then they model your behavior right back at you.

• Warning
This idea is not intended to stop power struggles from ever happening again. Power struggles will come back again. It’s how children push the envelope so they can learn the boundaries in different situations. Power struggles happen because a child has hit the end of his rope verbally, physically or emotionally and isn’t mature enough to know how to handle his big feelings and express himself respectfully at the same time, not yet. So he uses arguing as his method of communication.

• How to drop your end of a power struggle
Since your child is young and learning from everything around him, you need to make the first change. How? Mom and dad can back out of the power struggle by going silent for 10-60 seconds. It’s that simple and that powerful. The silence is not to be used as a punishment and it shouldn’t go on for any longer than it takes for the parent to see the child calm a little bit. As long as the silence isn’t punitive it quickly becomes more powerful than the arguing. It sends the message, “I hear you and I’m no longer willing to argue with you.”

• Your first reaction after reading that may be, “doesn’t that mean I’m letting him get away with disrespectful behavior?” No, actually it’s quite the opposite.
Parental silence captures his attention and he thinks, “Uh oh, I’m in trouble.” And since he’s emotionally out of control your silence shows him that you’re calm and in control and he’s comforted by that. He also senses that pleading, negotiating and screaming has to stop now.

• You need to explain why you’ve gone silent or it will either confuse him or cause a bigger fuss.
Go silent for 10-60 seconds as soon as you realize you’re in a power struggle. THEN

Explain that you won’t be talking until he calms down. Notice the short preschool level statement. THEN Go silent again as he tries to re-engage you and he will. Repeating instructions is key as you do this tip. Repeat this process as many times as needed the first one-three times you try this.

So the next time you find yourself arguing with a 3 or 4 yr old—go silent for 10-60 seconds, take a few deep breaths and wait for your child to get calmer before you talk. Then follow your heart as you help him learn about your family’s rules and resolve the situation.

Sharon Silver is the founder and director of ProActive Parenting, www.proactiveparenting.net a site offering downloadable seminars to help parents switch from punishment to discipline as they deal with everyday toddler and preschooler behavior.

FREE Nursing Cover! ($32 value)


All you have to pay is $7.95 in shipping and you can get one of these Essence "Udder Covers" FREE! Normally $32. I found out about this rather late so you may want to move on this quickly.
Use Code: onefree
Only available while supplies last!