This Full House Reviews

This Full House Giveaway #14: Ethel Gardening Gloves

[Update: This giveaway has ended - WE HAVE A WINNER! - with our most sincerest congratulations to, Betsy!]

I come from a long line of gardeners - my father was a landscaper, my grandfather and both my great-grandfathers were master gardeners to noble families in Europe - and I often tell my children that gardening is in their blood.

"Ewww, get it out!"

My 9-year-old son has this habit of taking things literally, lately.

So, anyway, what I was trying to say is that I grew up surrounded by flower beds and soon fell in love...with the sweet smell of wet dirt.

It's intoxicating, really.

A lot of people ask me why I put some much time and effort into growing vegetables, when we are surrounded by farm markets and super-shop-and-drops, and I smile, nod and just say that it makes me happy.

Dirt under my fingernails, not so much!

Favorite Find: SafetyCaps - A Dad Inventor's Safe Solution to Standard Outlet Plugs!

Dad Inventor, George DeCell, and Survivor Sage!

When my oldest daughter was born, I remember one of the first things I did was count her tiny fingers and chubby little toes and then feeling a huge sense of relief.

Then, I pretty much started to worry about EVERYTHING else...since then...but, one of the major issues my husband and I dealt with, very early on, was eliminating choking hazards and making our home as safe and child-friendly, as possible.

What if I told you that it may NOT have been enough and the very thing that was supposed to ensure her safety (along with her 3 siblings) nearly killed another child?

This Full House Giveaway #13: Care Bears Baby Gift Package

[UPDATE:  This Giveaway has ended - WE HAVE A WINNER - with our most sincerest congratulations to, Alice!]

Following in the footsteps of Strawberry Shortcake, The Care Bears are a set of cute and cuddly characters created in 1981 for use on greeting cards, made into huggable plush toys in 1983 and then scored their own television show from 1985 to 1988.

With their cute belly badges - each individual badge representing that Care Bear's special trait - these furry little friends teach children lessons in sharing and caring.

Today, growing families can share sweet memories with their little ones - Care Bears Baby has new infant bedding sets, along with accessories, available now at all Walmart stores!

This Full House Reviews: GameStop Blog Tour

As most parents (like me) may have already suspected, the computer and video game industry is growing and, according to PC Magazine, the number of U.S. households with game consoles rose notably, up from 33% in 2007 to 38% in 2008.

Thanks to our new best friends at Nintendo, we now have a Wii (review coming, soon) and are joining the 63% of parents who believe games are a positive part of their children's lives.

So, when Mom Central offered This Full House of used games and cheat codes the opportunity to review our local GameStop store, I half-reluctantly agreed, even though it goes against the contract that I made my kids sign (they are 14, 12, 9 and 7) in return for a one year subscription to a popular online game:

This Full House Giveaway #12: Family Picnic Package

[Deadline for this giveaway has expired:  WE HAVE A WINNER!]

My son has a terrible fear of bees -- having been the only child to have been stung, ever, and FIVE TIMES in one summer -- to the point where, if he sees a one...or, any bug...no matter how far away...he SCREAMS (yes, like a girl) and then pukes his guts up on whatever part of my body he happens to be clinging to for dear life, at that moment.

Backyard barbecue, anyone?

Blog Carnival: Review Bloggers - 23rd Edition

Welcome to the July 14, 2008 Edition of the Review Bloggers Carnival!

It's no secret. I like getting stuff. I like writing about the stuff that we like and perhaps make my family's life a little easier. Especially, if it works!

Or, I haven't managed to break it...YET!

Do you have a review blog - or, perhaps found a product (or, service) that you really, really like and you're aching to share with the rest of the blogosphere - then, you may be interested to learn that the Review Bloggers Carnival has come to This Full House!

Clean off a chair and come on in - mi casa, y su casa - as we canvas the Internets and share together in the ultimate consumer experience....window shopping!

Gone Fishing - Will Be Back Soon, or NOT!

[Cross-posted from my Mom Blog, This Full House, dedicated to parenting sort of, you know, stuff.]

Sand, surf and sharks...OH MY!

I'm flipping over the "gone fishing" fishing sign, as Mini-me's Godparents have invited us down to beautiful Cape May, NJ for a couple of days of fun in the sun (hopefully, if the weather holds out) and the kids and I are more than happy to...you know...help totally fill up the bedrooms at their beach house!

In the meantime - while we're off digging in the surf, chasing tiny little sand crabs and jumping some of the best waves on the east coast, taking loads of pictures...oh...AND eating tons of the most AWESOMEST (yes, it's a word!) boardwalk food that is ALSO probably really, really, bad for us, too - please, kick off your shoes and stay a while.

I've got some pretty good reading lined up, for you, too:

Meanwhile, Back at Kamp Kegel - Part V

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday, America!

My friends from Kamp Kegel (generously hosted by Johnson & Johnson for the makers of babies, everywhere) are holding reunions in the form of a weekly post roundup.

Here's what my fellow hair-braiding badge awardees were up to this week - oh AND there are some pretty cool contest and giveaways, too:

This Full House Giveaway #11 - Kit Mystery Challenge for Nintendo DS

[7/6/08 - Comments on this giveaway are now closed:  WE HAVE A WINNER!]

Kit Kittredge - An American Girl Movie opens in theaters nationwide, today (July 2, 2008) and this is the first feature film based on the hugely popular American Girl book series.

My youngest daughter (she's 7) and I were very excited to have been invited to the New York City screening, last month - you can read our full report and review, here - and she's absolutely thrilled to learn that she could also bring Kit home, with the help of Nintendo!