Category Archives: New posts

What do your kids really play with?

New posts, Toys, ,

Do you spend money on toys and games only to find them in the garage a couple of weeks later?

For example, my 10 year old son really wanted Bakugan. He has several Bakugan and played with them quite a bit for about a week. Since then he doesn’t know where more than 2 of them are and when I ask him to get them out and play with them he says they are not fun to play with without a friend.
My 3 year old plays with toys, games and arts & crafts a little more than my 10 year old but switches between them often. She’s 3 so I understand that’s normal.
My thought is that my 10 year old has too many toys and can’t decide which toy or game to play with so he’d rather sit and stare and the ceiling, roll a ball, or torment his sister.
Oh, he did play with his slinky for a long period of time this morning. A grand total of about 40 minutes over the course of 4 hours.
Ugh, it’s so frustrating having to constantly remind a 10 year old that he has toys to play with!
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that the kids love rolling a ball, coloring, and reading. The good thing is that when I pull the toy or game out a month later it’s like new and they play with it for a while again. When I think about it, the toys they really wanted are worth the money spent because they are like new over and over again. It’s just that I thought the kids would stick with a toy they begged for longer than a week. I think I was wrong!

So what do your kids play with regularly? Toys (what toys), games, blocks, food (ha!), other something else?
Alicia, The Mommy Insider Editor

Just enjoyed a conference call with Jason Schwartzman, Ash in Fantastic Mr. Fox

Entertainment, Interviews, New posts, ,

What a cool call! I just joined several other bloggers including Deb on the Rocks and Peeling an Orange with a Screwdriver on a call with Jason Schwartzman who plays Mr. Fox’s son Ash in Fantastic Mr. Fox!

Call Highlights:

  • I love Jason’s voice
  • Quote: “What, I’m on the ground digging with George Clooney and Meryl Streep?!” He was thrilled to be there with two great actors. The question was something like ‘what was the most fun moment during filming?’)
  • Jason was obsessed with digging as a child

Fantastic Mr. Fox movie

Fantastic Mr. Fox movie

Movie Synopsis:

FANTASTIC MR. FOX is visionary director Wes Anderson’s first animated film, utilizing classic handmade stop-motion techniques to tell the story of the best-selling children’s book by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach). The film features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wally Wolodarsky, Eric Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, and Jarvis Cocker.

Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Clooney and Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristofferson (Eric Anderson). But after twelve years of quiet domesticity, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr. Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground without enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers – Boggis, Bunce and Bean – who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost. In the end, he uses his natural instincts to save his family and friends.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is now playing in select cities and opens nationwide on Thanksgiving.

Are your kids excited about the movie Fantastic Mr. Fox?

Hair Couture.. sushi hair clips from Ruby’s Closet and a coupon code

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Coupon codes, Featured Articles, Holiday, New posts, ,
Madelyn went through a phase during which she didn’t want anything in her hair.. hairbows, clips, or headbands.  A 2 1/2 year phase in fact.  She’s 3 now and is more open to letting me fix her hair and put hair clips in it especially now that it’s long and she gets annoyed when it falls in her eyes and face. 

I recently received a few gorgeous and fun hair clips from Ruby’s Closet to feature here on The Mommy Insider and Madelyn had them all in her hair within a few minutes of seeing them. 

I love Ruby’s Closet’s Sushi hair clip set.  I love sushi and bright fun colors so I think this is a really fun clip.  I also love the Patchwork clips and have worn the one Madelyn is wearing in the photograph myself and was complimented!

Ruby’s Closet has a huge selection of fun, bright, creative, and colorful clippies and headbands. Each flower or clippie can be slipped through a loop on the headbands or hats to mix and match. This is great for keeping your daughters clippies from infant to child. It also lets you change up your child’s look for each outfit. All clippies come with a chemical and latex free “no slip” liner that works great for keeping the clippies in little or no hair.

Ruby’s Closet hair clips make great stocking stuffers!

Where to buy them: Ruby’s Closet
How much are they? Prices vary – $3.99, $7.50+

COUPON CODE:
Get 20% all products including shipping.
Use code: MOMMYINSIDER
Expiration date: 12/31/2009


Technorati Tags: toddler hair clip, headbands

Holiday Gift Ideas from Jeep – Jeep Backpacks and Messenger Bags

New posts, School, Travel, ,

Jeep Consumer Products continues to create a tough, durable and innovative consumer products that translates the “Have Fun Out There” attitude. From cool new bikes and RC vehicles to even fashionable footwear, juvenile products, pet products and even camping equipment, Jeep has something for every adventurist.

This Jeep backpack is ideal for outdoor adventures as well as for kids to use for school. Nylon lining, PVC backing and a rugged rubber handle grip makes this a sturdy, durable backpack that can withstand everyday wear and tear including that from a 10 year old like my son. He tosses his backpacks, and leaves them in compromising places where it is likely to be trampled by my 3 year old.

Jeep offers several backpacks all of which have good if not lots of storage space including two front pockets, two side pockets, pocket organizers and a convenient laptop sleeve. Adjustable padded shoulder straps provide comfortable support. Jeep backpacks are available in blue/gray or red/black and range in price depending on style.

Jeep backpacks can be bought at Amazon.com and local retailers like Target.

Jeep Messenger Bags

The Jeep® Messenger Bag features plenty of space for toting around books. A supportive adjustable shoulder strap makes it comfortable and convenient to carry and features one front and two side pockets. Designed with durable 1680D material and a 150D Nylon lining, the Jeep® Messenger Bag will withstand the toughest of adventures.
This is a great makeshift diaper bag for dads and would be a wonderful gift for an expecting dad!
Available in blue/black and red/black. ARP: $34.99

Browse All Things Jeep for their entire product selection including kids clothes, accessories, car gear, and more.

Holiday Gift Idea: CurlyQ Cuties and your Made-to-Order Monsters

Featured Articles, Gifts, Holiday, New posts, Personalized, ,
If you are on the hunt for a unique holiday gift idea you’ll love CurlyQ Cuties’ Made-to-Order Monsters.

You can use CurlyQ Cuties online kid-friendly interactive designer to design a one-of-a-kind handmade plush Monster your child will love. For about $25, your design design will be turned into a real live stuffed Monster toy made from quality anti-pill fleece.

I think it’s a great idea to let your child design their own monster but if you are giving one as a gift, I’m sure just about any design will be appreciated! CurlyQ Cuties are great for any age. My 3 and 10 year old both love their CurlyQ Cuties Made-to-Order Monster.
Madelyn named her CurlyQ Cutie Made-to-Order Monster Noodles. 

Where to buy: CurlyQ Cuties
How much is it? $25+