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Favorite iphone Apps For Toddlers
favorite iphone apps for toddlers
On a beautiful sunny San Francisco morning in late October of 2007, I pushed my son into this world. Before the epidural had even worn off, the Dude gave me what I consider the best *push* present ever: an iphone.
That morning, I was introduced to two things I can’t live without.
Now that my son is exactly 2.5 years old, I rely on my iphone even more these days. There are a ton of great apps to keep the little ones distracted and entertained when necessary. While we’re standing in a long line at the grocery store or sitting at the doctor’s office, I simply select a few apps to entertain (and even educate) my son while we wait. Please note that most of these apps will require assistance, so don’t hand the iphone over to the toddler and let them have at it, especially if your kid is like mine. You’ll be upgrading to the next iphone version much earlier than you would like.
Without further ado, these are my 15 favorite toddler-friendly apps that are a no-fail solution to a cranky and impatient child. (continues…)
08
Blog • Bid • Hope
After only a few short months of blogging, I’ve been introduced to a community of bloggers that supports one another, encourages one another, and helps each other out when needed. It’s an amazing community and I feel fortunate to even know the generosity and kindness that these bloggers give to one another.
Shortly before Thanksgiving, a blogger named Anissa Mayhew landed in the ICU after suffering from a stroke. Anissa is a 35 year old mother of 3 young children. Anissa is now out of ICU but she has a long journey to recovery. This is not the first tragedy for the Mayhew family. In 2005, Anissa suffered her first stroke and, in 2006, her daughter Peyton was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of two. Thankfully, Peyton has since recovered. Anissa has not yet recovered from her second stroke and is still in the hospital. Her family needs her and they need our help.
Another blogger needs our help, too. His name is Matt Logelin and he is the President of the Liz Logelin Foundation. In March 2008, Matt lost his wife Liz to a pulmonary embolism within hours after she gave birth to their daughter, Madeline. Matt has a profoundly sad and touching story to tell and he is helping others with similar stories. His foundation works to help other families with young children who lost a parent.
If you would like to help Anissa Mayhew and the Liz Logelin Foundation, there is a 3-day auction going on right now to help and support these two good causes. The auction is offering a variety of goods, from toys and gift certificates to accessories and art. Seven bloggers are running the auction through their websites and the items donated have been given by many participants. Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog has donated several Blue Hat Toy Company, Emerson, and Shift3 toys to be auctioned. Those items can be found on each auction website.
Make sure to visit the blogs below to access the auction and please make a bid to help support families that need our help.
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Triple Give-Away: 3 $25 Gift Certificates for Threadless.Com!!!
Have you heard about RetailMeNot?
Yes? Well, then. You’re clearly a very smart shopper.
No? OK, I don’t want to alarm you, but your blood pressure is about to go through the roof when you add up all the money you may have thrown away over the past few years.
RetailMeNot is an incredible coupon website, and they are about to celebrate their 3rd anniversary on Friday, October 30th. In the three years RetailMeNot has been operating, they have offered more than 400,000 coupons for 80,000 retailers, restaurants, and brands. I can’t tell you how often I have used promo codes off their website in order to get great deals. Needless to say, I never shop online without checking out the current promotions at RetailMeNot.
In celebration of RetailMeNot’s upcoming anniversary on the 30th, I have been given* THREE $25 gift certificates for www.threadless.com! Have you checked out threadless.com yet? I LOVE their concept and the beautiful, funky, and unique t-shirts they sell. Mamas, have you seen their baby/toddler/kid size t-shirts? Too freakin’ cute for words. I’m a fan. There is a huge selection of t-shirts for all sizes and they make such a cool gift.
In order to WIN one of THREE $25 gift certificates, I’ll need you to do the following:
1. Post a comment! Tell me about RetailMeNot and your experience with their website and coupons. If you haven’t paid them a visit, do so now and let me know what you think.
2. For an extra entry, subscribe to Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog and/or tweet, blog, or spread the news of this contest in some other way (Facebook, MySpace, etc…). Post an additional comment if you spread the word.
3. You have until 9pm PST on October 30th to enter this contest. Contest open for U.S. residents only. Sorry, Canadians.
4. I will generate 3 random comment numbers from Random.org. The THREE winners will be announced the morning of October 31st. The winners will receive codes via e-mail for the $25 gift certificate. No mailing address will be needed. Also, don’t worry about spam. I will only use your e-mail address for the purpose of sending the gift certificate code.
So, go on now, and check out RetailMeNot and threadless.com…and start commenting and spreading the word!
Good luck!
*Disclosure: RetailMeNot has provided me a $25 gift certificate for threadless.com for my own personal use. RetailMeNot did not request an endorsement in exchange for providing me with these coupons. As I have previously written before, I will always disclose if I receive compensation or free product in exchange for an endorsement.
22
What’s Next For Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog?
Hello Readers!
As I start blogging my way into a 2nd month of Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog, I have some very exciting stuff coming up that I would love to share with you all.
Gimme Gimme!
First, I have more give-aways coming up! I know give-aways are quite popular (duh) and I enjoy them, too. Just like almost every other parent I know, I am a big consumer of all things kid-related. When I need to shop for my kid, especially if it’s for a big-ticket item, I depend on other parents for product reviews and feedback. I like to do the same for other parents. I have been a long-time reviewer on websites like www.yelp.com (two-time Elite!) and consumer websites like www.amazon.com, so writing reviews is nothing new to me. I have always loved spreading the word about an incredible restaurant, service, product, or company. I don’t believe that reviews and give-aways diminish the primary purpose and perspective of a blogger. I believe reviews and give-aways can actually enhance the content of a blog. To know me and my blog is to also know the stuff I like to buy and gift to others.
One final and very important note about that: in the few years I have been reviewing online, I have never ever ever been paid or sponsored in any way. Although, to be perfectly honest, I have been given free frozen yogurt as a thank you for a good review. If, in the future I am paid or sponsored, I will disclose that information. I will always be honest about the products I love and the products I despise. I didn’t start blogging to make a few bucks or get free stuff. However, I must admit that frozen yogurt usually works well. (continues…)
08
The Highchair From Hell
I’m a picky shopper. I do my research before I buy products, especially if it’s something for the Monkey. I am willing to spend more money on a quality item that I use multiple times on a daily basis, like a high chair. So when I spend a lot, I expect a lot in return. Simply put, I expect to get my money’s worth. Before I bought my Peg Perego high chair, I read the safety reports and reviews. Reviewers raved about it. Other moms and friends raved about it. It seemed like this was the perfect highchair.
Wrong.
If you’re a clean-freak like I am, the Peg Perego Prima Pappa Best (try saying that 5x fast) is the highchair from hell.
There is no proper way to clean the damn thing. The straps easily soil and stain and nothing works well enough to clean them. There are crevices on the side of the seat where food will find it’s way. You will find food in there that you know you haven’t served in weeks. You have to use a Q-Tip to clean that stuff out. The worst part is, the pleather seat starts cracking over time and then the material peels away. How is that possible? I usually only use a mild detergent to clean it, like Seventh Generation. On occasion, I use heavily diluted vinegar to clean the straps, so I don’t believe that’s the culprit. It just doesn’t make any sense to me and I know I’m not the only one. Over the past few months, I’ve read quite a few other reviews that say that exact same thing.
The Monkey is currently transitioning to a booster seat at the table and rarely sits down in the highchair. When he does, I have to actually put a cloth down for him to sit on because I don’t want him sitting on cracked and peeling pleather. How ridiculous is that? I would just go and buy another highchair, but it seems like such a waste when it’s not even going to be used much longer.
Needless to say, I don’t recommend the Peg Perego Prima Pappa Best Worst high chair. Spend your hard-earned money elsewhere. I wish I had another high chair to recommend, but I don’t. If you have found a great high chair, please leave a comment below.