Monthly Archives: June 2008

Cahooties – a modern twist on the classic ‘fortune telling’ game

CahootieLike most little girls, I spent hours folding paper
and playing the game of  ‘fortune telling’ when I was a child.   I was recently thrilled to learn about Cahootie, a game based off of the ‘fortune telling’ game and to share it with Sebastian, my eight year old son.  Who say’s boys can’t play too?   Despite the fact that Cahootie is geared toward girls onlCahootiestickers
y, Sebastian enjoys the Sporty Girl Cahootie.  I didn’t make a big deal of the game being for girls, so he doesn’t care.

Cahootie, available in several versions; Truth or
Dare, Wishes and Dreams, Sporty Girl, Birthday Wishes, Democrat, and Republican each featuring colorful designs and 40 re-positionable stickers, so the game changes as often as players want it to.

I quickly learned that Cahootie is tear-resistant. My 2 year old daughter and un-approved Cahootie tester put our review Cahootie to the test and I am pleased to say that the Cahootie withstood some rough treatment. 

Priced at just $5.95, Cahootie make a great gift.

Cahootie.com, is an interactive website where free Cahootie templates are available for download and printing so your kids can make their own Cahootie and stickers.  Join Club Cahootie and your kids can submit their own Cahootie designs to be featured on the website!

I have five Cahootie’s to giveaway! Sign up for our newsletter using the link above or come back to see when the giveaway starts.

Wordlocks review + giveaway!

WordlocksWhen I was in high school, I was afraid that I would lose my locker combination and wouldn’t be able to get my books and homework out of my locker.   I had nightmares about it and would think about it so much that I set myself up for combination failure.   I’m not kidding. High school was a tough time.

Now, there is a product called Wordlock that I think is just great!  Using words instead of numbers, our kids can secure their locker, bicycle, ‘treasure box’ and more.

Wordlocks are locks that have letters instead of numbers so you
can come up with easy-to-recall 4 or 5 letter word or letter combos like your
child’s favorite food, C-A-N-D-Y. Wordlocks are ideal for parents with
children because children often forget number combinations, and parents often misplace
the sheet of paper with the combination on it.

Wordlocks come in padlocks, bike locks and
travel locks.  The bike lock is great for those times when your child might forget a numeric combination and you aren’t available for him to call and ask "hey mom, what’s my bike lock combination again"?  Now, he can set an easy to remember word combination.   Wordlock padlocks are great for outdoor pool gates, yard gates, and storage boxes that you don’t want the kids getting into.   The travel locks are
great for your small, personal luggage you take on your summer road trips with the family.  You know, the luggage you don’t want the kids rummaging through!

Wordlocks can be bought at Amazon.com.

GIVEAWAY!!
I have three padlocks, bike locks, and travel locks to give away to lucky readers!

Leave a comment about what type of situation you and/or your kids could really use a Wordlock and I will choose three winners to receive one of each Wordlock.   I will choose the winners Wednesday July 2nd, 2008.  You must enter a valid email address when leaving your comment so I can get in touch with you if you are a winner!

Summer Safety Tips

Longer summer days means dramatically more time spent
outside in the sun with our kids: from hanging out on the beach or at
the pool, to running in the yard, to hiking through the woods. Amidst
these summer activities, safety issues lurk from insects to sun burns
to keeping hydrated. The Mommy Insider, in cooperation with Mom Central who has joined with The Clorox Company and MommyDocs we share with you these
important summer safety tips:Safetytipssun_2

  • Have a Sun Protection Strategy:
    The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum
    Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15.  Look for products that provide
    "broad spectrum" coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
    Use this sunscreen routine with your child–daily application 30
    minutes before going
    outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner
    if swimming, toweling off, or sweating).  Creating a routine will
    establish good habits for the future.  In addition, don’t forget a wide
    brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun
    protective clothing.

  • Keep Pests off Your Little One:
    In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child.  For pesky
    mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellent.
    Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the
    eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of
    DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary
    exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the
    planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on
    children under 2 months old.

  • Keep the Pool Cool and Clean:
    Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down
    when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as
    bacteria.  To keep the pool free from unwanted "swimmers," after each
    use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of  ¾ cup
    regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry
    tSafetytipsdrinkuphoroughly.  Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age
    when they are around any water; whether it’s a bucket, a small backyard
    plastic pool, or the local community pool.

  • High Heat Means Hydrate:
    Excessive heat exposure may
    cause your child to experience a
    heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat
    stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing
    outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink!  Make
    sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.

  • Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies:
    Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail,
    and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather.  But
    all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants
    including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac.  If
    an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral
    antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid
    cream or calamine.  If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not
    getting better, call your doctor right away.

All safety tips can also be found on MommyDocs.com.

Schlage Residential Electronic Keypad Lock

Schlagedeadbolt70% – The number of Moms, according to a Mom Central survey, who have given keys to people who are not members of the
household.  When asked to consider how many non-residents have keys
to their homes, 86% reported feeling at least moderately concerned.   The number that was even more surprising to me is 84% which is the percent of Moms who
have experienced a child, babysitter, or housekeeper entering a
designated "off-limits" area in the home, sometimes with serious
consequenSchlagepersonalces.  Scary!

I was recently given the opportunity by Mom Central and Schlage, to review a Schlage keypad lock and will never go back to a regular deadbolt lock and I think my family agree’s.

As featured on The Learning Channel’s Designing Spaces, Schlage keypad locks are a great way to keep your home safe from intruders who are pro’s at picking locks, while allowing your older children to enter your home after school or sports practice without having to keep up with
a key.

Schlage keypad
locks are ready to use right out of the box.  The keypad lock comes preset with two unique user codes so programming the lock in not necessary unless you want to create a custom code.  All you have to do is install the keypad lock with one simple tool, a flat head screw driver. 

The keypad lock allows you to add, change or delete
user codes in seconds and uses a premium 9-volt battery which is included.  Schlage keypad locks have a plethora of features including, but not limited to:

  • A simple keypad to be used for keyless access (no need to keep up with keys!)
  • Buttons are coated to prevent wear and tear
  • A warning signal after four incorrect attempts
  • Lots of finish options (brass, oil rubbed bronze, and more) that have been proven to withstand harsh weather conditions
  • Less than 30 minute installation
  • Available for interior and exterior doors and in varying styles
  • Innovative ‘Turn Lock’ feature allows you to lock & leave without a key

Take a look at all of the different Schlage electronic keypad locks here and where to buy one online here.

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