Category Archives: New posts

iMommy iPad and iPhone App Review

Does your child love playing with baby dolls or pets? Then he/she will love the iMommy app.  My daughter has been playing with iMommy today and she loves it.  When we launched the app for the first time, my daughter got to choose and customize a baby.  She customized her baby by changing her baby’s eye, hair, and clothing color.  She even got to choose a cute little design for her baby’s outfit!  After her baby was customized she was presented with a scrolling view of the different rooms/areas in which she could play with her baby.

imommy ipad app review

iMommy iOs app for children
iMommy bath time screen

There are six areas where her baby can play, sleep, and eat.  The different rooms/areas rotated across the screen allowing her to tap on the one that she wants to play.

My daughter’s favorite room is the playroom.  There are books and toys for her baby to play with.  She simply drags a toy or book into her baby’s hand or puts it by the baby and watches as her baby reacts with movement and sounds.  She can even tap on the radio in the playroom to play music for her baby.  The baby sounds are adorable.

Bath time is especially fun.  Madelyn enjoys turning the water on and off, giving her baby toys to play with in the bath tub, and cleaning her with soap and shampoo.

When she decides it’s bedtime for her baby, she goes to the nursery screen where her baby is in a crib.  She can tap on a teddy bear to have her baby snuggle with the teddy and click on a crib icon to rock the baby’s crib.  The lights turn on and off with the tap of a light switch.

Here is a brief video of my daughter playing with iMommy for the first time:

 

About iMommy
Kathy Shimmield, the genius creator of iMommy developed this game with her children in mind.  Her two youngest were especially interested in playing ‘Mom’ and it occurred to her that such a universal game as ‘pretend’ parental play, would translate into a great app.  Kathy searched the app store and was genuinely surprised to find no apps that addressed this type of imaginative play for younger children.  It took many months of research, learning as she went and focus but eventually ‘iMommy’ was born!
This game is ideal for kids ages 2-10 but is suitable for any age.  The focus of the game is to design and interact with your baby, the player can choose 4 different ethnicities of baby then they can change their babies hair, eye or outfit color. It’s up to them to take care of their baby and learn what makes the baby happy and what upsets the baby.  They have to feed, play, bathe and even change babies diaper!

iTunes rated TOP 100 in family category and I’m sure it will hit to 10 soon!

iMommy is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.

Download iMommy today and let the fun begin!


Alicia Hagan, Editor

Need a Mood Boost? 8 Instant Mood Boosters!

8 instant mood boosters
Image source: EverydayHealth.com

You are a busy mom, I know how it is.  Down in the dumps? These super-quick tricks can have you beaming in no time (no prescription needed).

Your boss is piling on the work. Traffic is in gridlock mode. The kids won’t … stop … whining. And you? You could benefit from some sort of emotional pick-me-up right about now.

You’re in luck: Research shows that there are a number of simple things you can do to transform grumpiness into happiness (quickly).

“You can change habits, behavior, and attitudes one inch at a time. Just be persistent,” says Philip H. Friedman, PhD, a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., who is director of the Foundation for Well Being and an adjunct assistant professor at the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology.

Got a minute? Then hug your partner, check out some artwork, and give these other smile-inducers a shot.

Here are four of my favorite of the eight instant mood boosters featured in the original article on EverydayHealth.com.

  • Take a Power Nap
  • Get Decked Out in Green (or Yellow or Pink or Blue)
  • Jam Out
  • Take a Piping-Hot Shower
  • See the other four instant mood boosters here.

Crayola “Inside the Crayon Box” Prize Pack Giveaway {Contest Closed}

Crayola has been in my life for years and years.  I remember melting Crayola crayons on our driveway in Florida.  I would set my Crayola crayons that were too small to color with on the driveway or sidewalk and leave them there for the day then check on them later to find them melted.  “Yes! What a pretty blob” is probably what I was thinking at 7 years old.  Things like melting crayons are what make life fascinating for a child don’t you think?  Something as simple as crayons can create memories that last a lifetime.

I’m thrilled that my 5 year old daughter is finally getting into coloring.  For the longest time she wouldn’t color because she wanted to stay inside the lines but didn’t have the fine motor skills do make that happen and she would get frustrated.   Please note.. I didn’t request that she stay in the lines!  That’s not the way I color!  Now she will color for a couple of hours straight.  I love it.

We recently received a pack of products from Crayola and MyBlogSpark to try out and it couldn’t have been better timing.  We have been on the road a lot lately and all of the products except for the Kaleidoscope Chalk are great for car rides.Crayola

  • Crayola Mess Free Color Wonder Tiny TubeCrayola Mess Free Color Wonder Tiny Tube
    With over 10 ft of coloring, perforated activity pages, a carry-along handle and the ability to store markers inside, kids can color at home or on the road; markers magically appear only on the special Color Wonder paper, not on skin.
    I LOVE this!  The pictures are perforated and each picture has slightly sticky strips on the back allowing it to stick to a table or travel desk so it doesn’t slide.  Great for car rides!
  • Crayola Washable Kaleidoscope ChalkCrayola Washable Kaleidoscope Chalk
    Experience sidewalk art in amazing new ways, by drawing designs, putting on the 3D Kaleidoscope glasses and watching as creations pop up off the ground.
    My daughter had a friend over to play with Crayola Washable Kaleidoscope Chalk.  The outlined each other and then colored themselves in.  The loved the way their hair and ‘clothes’ would pop out at them when they put the 3D Kaleidoscope glasses on.
  • Crayola Dry-Erase Bright CrayonsCrayola Dry-Erase Bright Crayons
    A dry-erase drawing and writing tool for kids that’s washable, smudge-proof, odorless, and will never dry out.
    These crayons are easy to clean.  That was my biggest concern with these but I was surprised to find that they really do wipe right off the dry erase board with a paper towel.
  • Crayola Dual-Sided Dry Erase BoardCrayola Dual-Sided Dry Erase Board
    This two-sided board is white on one side and black on the other switching the typical whiteboard up.  This combined with the Caryola Dry-Erase Bright Crayons make for eye-popping pictures or messages!
  • My First Crayola Washable Crayons, Markers & StampersMy First Crayola Washable Crayons, Markers & Stampers
    Just the right size and shape for little hands, toddlers can create bright and colorful designs with no caps to lose or no messy ink pads.
    My daughter just had to try the stampers out and sure enough she had a great time with them.  I thought she would be too old for them but she made beautiful pictures out of the stamps.

To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!

My daughter’s demonstration and favorite things about Crayola Crystal Effect Window Markers

Watch Crayola’s “Creativity Matters” and “Inspire” videos on YouTube for inspiration and entertainment!

Who wants to win a Crayola “Inside the Crayon Box” prize pack?
This contest has ended.  Congratulations Kelly T! 

The prize pack contains:

  • My First Crayola Washable Crayons, Markers & Stampers
  • Crayola Mess Free Color Wonder Tiny Tube
  • Crayola Crystal Effect Window Markers
  • Crayola Washable Kaleidoscope Chalk
  • Crayola Dry-Erase Bright Crayons
  • Crayola Dual-Sided Dry Erase Board
To enter leave a comment below telling us what your favorite Crayola memory or experience is OR who you would give the prize pack to.

Earn extra entries:

  • 2 entries – Like The Mommy Insider on Facebook
  • 2 entries – Follow Mommy Insider on Twitter
  • 2 entries – Subscribe to our RSS newsletter
  • 3 entries each time – Tweet about this giveaway: “I entered to win a Crayola prize pack on TheMommyInsider.com.  You can enter this #giveaway here: http://wp.me/plszx-2TY @mommyinsider”
  • 3 entries each – Enter any of our other contests and let us know which contests you entered in the comments below
  • 5 entries – Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave the URL in the comments below.  Do not copy and paste this post into your blog.
  • Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in the comments below.

Contest Rules:

  • Entries accepted through 11:59PM EST March 29th, 2012.
  • U.S. Residents only.
  • Ages 21+.
  • No P.O. Boxes
  • Winner must respond to our email within 24 hours to claim their prize.
  • Read The Mommy Insider’s Contest Rules here.  By entering this contest you are agreeing to the rules.

Disclosure: The Crayola “Inside the Crayon Box” prize pack, product information and prize pack for giveaway have been provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator {Review and Giveaway}

Take your shoes to the garage!  

Put your gym clothes in the washer!

 Get the stinky clothes out of your room and into the washing machine!

Sound familiar?

I have two kids but some days it smells like I’m raising elephants in my house.   I have used Febreze odor eliminating spray for years and keep one bottle of it on all three levels of our house. As I tell my 12 year old son who brings home some super smelly clothes after camping trips “I’m ready to aim and spray whenever necessary”!

Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator

What do all of the photographs above all have in common?
They all resulted in stinky laundry!

That’s why I was very happy to learn about a new P&G product, Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator.  Good Housekeeping- approved, Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator is specially formulated to clean away odors that get trapped in fabrics.  Bad odors are washed away during the rinse cycle.  To use, simply measure according to the load size and add directly to wash cycle with your liquid or powder detergent.  Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator CAN be used in HE washers.

 

Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator
Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator

Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator did not interfere with my laundry detergent scent.  My son who is doing his own laundry now, when he remembers, knows to use Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator in his loads now.  He goes camping a lot and comes home with super stinky clothes.  Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator is a godsend for parents of Boy Scouts, campers, and kids who play sports.

You’ll find information about the new Febreze products on NewFrebreze.com.  I am a member of the  a Febreze Common Scents Institute and you can be too!

Who wants to win a Febreze Common Scents Institute Kit?

I have been given the opportunity to give one lucky The Mommy Insider reader a Febreze Common Scents Institute Kit!

Febreze Common Scents Institute
Febreze Common Scents Institute prize package

The Common Scents Institute Kit contains a coupon for a free bottle of Febreze Laundry Eliminator, a Febreze Towel, Tide Odor-Absorbing Travel Laundry Bag, and a Common Scents Institute Guide with a magnet so you can stick it on your refrigerator or washing machine.

To enter to win leave a comment telling me whose stinky laundry you hope to tackle with Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator.

Earn extra entries:

  • 2 entries – Like The Mommy Insider on Facebook
  • 2 entries – Follow Mommy Insider on Twitter
  • 2 entries – Subscribe to our RSS newsletter
  • 3 entries each time – Tweet about this giveaway: “I entered to win a Febreze Common Scents Institute Kit on TheMommyInsider.com. Enter #giveaway here: http://wp.me/plszx-2TK @mommyinsider”
  • 3 entries each – Enter any of our other contests and let us know which contests you entered in the comments below
  • 5 entries – Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave the URL in the comments below.  Do not copy and paste this post into your blog.
  • Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in the comments below.

Contest Rules:

  • Entries accepted through 11:59PM EST March 31st, 2012.
  • U.S. Residents only.
  • Ages 21+.
  • No P.O. Boxes
  • Winner must respond to our email within 24 hours to claim their prize.
  • Read The Mommy Insider’s Contest Rules here.  By entering this contest you are agreeing to the rules.

Disclosure:  I received a Febreze Common Scents Institute Kit for purposes of this review and giveaway.  All opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

What My Doctor Pulling a No-Show Motivated Me To Do

I am absolutely exhausted. My entire body is sore, especially my calves, but I accomplished more this weekend than I have any weekend, in years.

It all started Friday afternoon when my doctor didn’t call for my 4:30 telephone appointment. I waited for his call for five hours. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I wasn’t expecting to get the results of my CAT Scans. I anticipated that phone call all day..for two weeks actually. Starting at 4:20 I held my phone. Then at 4:30 I was ready to answer the phone and hopefully be told good news. At 4:50 the receptionist at the doctor’s office called me to ask if I was coming in for my appointment. I said “NO! I’ve been waiting for the doctor to call for fifteen minutes”. She said that he was running behind and would call within an hour. An hour and fifteen minutes passed. I called the doctor’s office. The receptionist assured me that the doctor would call soon. 9:30 came around and I gave up. I really held the phone until 9:30.

Pulling weeds

Saturday I knew I needed to stay busy so I wouldn’t obsess about the missed call and lack of test results. So I..

  • Cleaned out my car
  • Pulled weeds
  • Swept the front deck
  • Cleaned the sandbox cover
  • Cleaned the front door
  • Cleaned the baseboards in the foyer
  • Cleaned the walls in the foyer
  • Swept and vacuumed the kitchen, living room, upstairs hallway, and my daughter’s room
  • Exercised

Today, I pulled all of the weeds out of my big garden and raked. I don’t remember the last time I sweated so much. Maybe I burned a few calories. While I was raking I stumbled across a snake. My son caught it and showed it off to my husband before letting it go. My son weeded and conditioned his vegetable garden to get it ready for planting.

Tonight, after I got home from a fun blogger get-together I cleaned out my closet. I filled two large bags with clothes to give away.

Chances are I’m not going to accomplish that much in one weekend again for a very long time.

I’m counting on talking to the the doctor Monday.

If I don’t, maybe I’ll clean out the garage or build a deck. 🙂

Alicia Hagan, Editor