Category Archives: Ages 10-13

Junior Varsity Naturals kids deodorant – no harsh chemicals!

Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Health,

Kids play hard. There’s playing hard in the winter and there’s playing hard in the summer. It’s summer and this playing hard stinks! There are times when my 10 year old (sorry Seb!) walks in the door after playing outside and I tell him to go take a shower.. I can’t take it. The stink is a combination of perspiration and dirty clothes smell.
Until the folks at Junior Varsity Naturals emailed me about their natural deodorant, I didn’t consider that my 10 year old should start wearing deodorant any time soon. Well, according to an unbiased poll of over 500 parents, 28% of kids develop body odor between 10-11 years old. Yikes.. not my son, right?! I am so lucky that I was recently contacted by Junior Varsity Naturals to review their natural kids deodorant. What timing!

Junior Varsity Naturals brand deodorant is an all-natural product developed for active children of any age. This product is created with no harsh chemicals such as aluminum chlorhydrate (may be linked with Alzheimer’s Disease), Parabens (May be linked with breast cancer) and propylene glycol (Ingredient commonly used in manufacturing antifreeze). Instead Junior varsity Naturals produces a natural antibacterial deodorant complete with odor preventing botanicals, which are gentle and effective. This natural deodorant goes on clear and will not leave any white residue.

Junior Varsity Naturals brand deodorant is available specifically for boys and girls. The boy’s deodorant has a citrus fragrance (all natural) while the girls is cherry. My 3 year old daughter carries her Junior Varsity Naturals deodorant in her little bag she takes everywhere! She calls it her “dodedant”.

How much? A well worth it $6.99
Where to buy: Junior Varsity Naturals

Here’s an interesting article..

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Office Depot’s Project Backpack and Sharpie contest

Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, New posts, School, ,

Office Depot Project Backpack

This is a super fun project for school-age kids!  My son is 9 and he had a blast decorating his backpack.  Granted, he refused to draw a rough draft on a sheet of paper or use a pencil on the backpack first so I was a little frustrated.  But he’s 9.  I’m working on the photographs of his backpack tonight.. check back tomorrow for them!

The Project Backpack contest offers customers a chance to have their Sharpie-Designed backpack reproduced and sold in Office Depot stores nationwide.  A purchase is not required in order to enter the contest but if you purchase a qualifying backpack from Office Depot you get to choose 2 FREE Sharpies to decorate it.  Otherwise, you can download the Sharpie backpack template, decorate it and upload your design. The Grand Prize winner will receive a check in the amount of $5000.

Follow these easy steps to enter the contest:

  1. Go to your nearest Office Depot store to pick out the qualifying backpack (sku 789-795) and select 2 FREE Sharpies to decorate it. Click here to find an Office Depot store near you.
  2. Decorate your backpack and take a picture of it. Need inspiration? Visit www.sharpieuncapped.com
  3. Fill out the online entry form and upload the image of your decorated backpack.
  4. If you do not have a qualifying backpack, there is an alternative way to enter the contest. Simply download the Sharpie Backpack template, decorate it and upload your design.

Contest entries are accepted until September 19th, 2009 and there is a judging and voting phase after that.  The finalists will be announced November 15th.

Grand Prize
One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded to the Finalist who receives the most votes. The Grand Prize will consists of a check in the amount of $5,000 for the winner and the winner’s back pack design will be produced and sold in Office Depot stores in 2010.

First Prize
One (1) First Prize will be awarded to the Finalist who receives the second highest quantity of votes. The First Prize will consist of a check in the amount of $3,000.

Second Prize
One (1) Second Prize will be awarded to the Finalist who receives the third highest quantity of votes. The Second Prize will consist of a check in the amount of $2,000.

Check out the Project Backpack website here for contest rules, prize, contest, and voting information.

You can see some inspirational designs here.  Good luck!

Alicia Hagan, The Mommy Insider Editor

Product Review: Burpee Money Garden $650 of veggies for just $10.. my 9 year old can do it, so can you!

Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Gardening, New posts, Organic,

b450151It’s true. If you buy a lot of vegetables, organic at that, you will cut your grocery bill quite a bit just by growing your own veggies. “But that’s so hard”, some say. Well, if I can do it (actually my 9 year old son does it), then you can.

Each Money Garden includes vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, and peppers which are ideal for every day snacks and meals. Madelyn loves a snack of carrots and dip. Knowing that the carrots are fresh. Some of the veggies should be sown in the spring while there are some that can be sown in late summer so buy a package or enter to win a package (below) today so you can get a move on sowing your veggie seeds for a nice Fall crop.

A few homegrown vegetable and Money Garden facts:

  • homegrown veggies taste better than store-bought
  • they don’t sit in a truck or on a store shelf for a week or more
  • they can be organic
  • and if your kids help plant the seeds and maintain the garden, they will be proud of themselves and learn responsibility!

tomotosThe photograph here is of Sebastian’s tomato plant which he is very proud of. He can’t wait until they tomatoes are ready to eat!
Each Money Garden contains packages of six easy-to-grow varieties capable of producing $650 worth of vegetables on a mere tenth of an acre. You can buy Burpee’s Money Garden package for your garden here. The sowing/growing instructions aren’t included on the package so you’ll want to print them out from here.

GIVEAWAY!
I have 4 Burpee’s Money Garden packages to give away to lucky subscribers! Subscribers just need to leave a comment below (use your subscriber email address) telling me what your favorite vegetable is and/or something funny about your kids and veggies.

WAT-AAH!

Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Food and Drink, , , , ,
Watahh Do kids ever WANT to drink water?  When WAT-AAH!'s available mine do.  That could be because we don't have juice in our fridge very often, so the options are water and milk.  But, 9 times out of 10, both of my kids chose milk – pre WAT-AAH!. 

When I put WAT-AAH! in the fridge in cluster of milk, regular bottled water, and apple juice, Sebastian chose WAT-AAH!.  The first time he chose WAT-AAH!, he said it was out of curiosity but he enjoyed it.  I caught his enjoyment on video but for some reason I can't get some of my videos to upload onto my new computer.  Just a little while later he chose WAT-AAH! again, over apple juice.  When I asked why he chose WAT-AAH! over the apple juice, he said it was "because the bottle is cool and looks fun".   I asked him about the lack of flavor and if he felt like his thirst was quenched and he replied with a simple "It's water mom.  Water doesn't have flavor and I'm not thirsty right now, I just drank some water". That was a bit of a smart-alic answer but he was being truthful.  It is in fact water, and after drinking about 1/3rd of the bottle of WAT-AHH! he wasn't thirst anymore.

There are currently four 'flavors' (unflavored) of WAT-AHH!; Brain, Body, Energy, and Bones.  You can learn more about WAT-AHH! here.

Bratz – Spring Activities from Dancing to Swimming

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Toys, , , , , , ,

Kidz Mermaidz Yasmin
Madelyn is a little young to play with Bratz but believe me, she would if she could.  Bratz dolls are vibrant, stylish, and come with lots of accessories to occupy and entertain little girls for hours.
Bratz's new spring line is made up of Bratz expressing their individual style and interests from   sports themes to team activities giving girls the opportunity to express their own interests through their favorite Bratz dolls. 

Dance Crewz Cloe Practice
The new Bratz Dance Crewz line has Yasmin™, Cloe™,
Jade™ and Sasha™ showing off their individual style as they bring their
talents to the dance stage.  The Bratz World® line expands
this season with additions to each doll’s house, and the introduction
of Cloe’s mom, Polita.  If I remember right, my sister and I used to fight over who was the mom when we played dolls. If you're reading, correct me if I'm wrong!  There is even a
Swimmin’ Mermaid whose tail changes color when she swims in water.

Go to the Bratz website to see all of the products, watch Bratz TV, and listen to Bratz tunes.  Check out these and other Bratz on the Bratz page on the Toys R' Us website.