Up until I downloaded a sample app recently, I never knew the girls had any interest in The Berenstain Bears. So when I got the chance to review some new products with them, I was excited! 

The Berenstain Bears have just released a new limited edition package for boys and girls, now exclusively available at Walmart and Sam’s Club in the U.S. Golden Brother Edition and Golden Sister Edition come with fuzzy Brother and Sister plush toys plus a DVD featuring episodes around each character.

The episodes are each based around Brother or Sister and focus in on issues that young kids deal with – like Sister wanting a toy when your parents can’t have and your good friend has the entire collection, or Brother’s struggle with chronic lateness. It focuses on each character’s strengths: brother loves sports and stands up for smaller cubs, while Sister is spirited, spunky and outdoorsy.

Good, wholesome and clean, these episodes show the problems that kids struggle with – and don’t shy away from even grown ups making mistakes. In one episode, Mother Bear loses her cool – and sentences sister to a day in her room and a week in the house.  Harsh! Father Bear comes in to calm her down and tells her the mess was made by a bunch of kids. It’s all resolved when the children come back and clean up altogether.

The kids enjoyed the show, and Zoe loves her plushes! I found both bears in a bag -Amelia’s loves to pack up her babies. Berenstain Bears Golden Brother or Golden Sister Edition makes a great gift for any young child. Each DVD is over 2 hours longs and the set costs $19.99.

Disclosure: I received a sample of products from Kaboom for this review.

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Kids with autism and neurotypical kids perform together at the Miracle Project.

Miracle Project Founder Elaine Hall

I’m excited to introduce you to The Miracle Project, an inclusive program that helps children and teens with autism and other special needs express themselves through creative arts, like music and acting. 

Founder Elaine Hall was inspired to start the program to help her son, Neal Katz, now age 18. At age 2, he was diagnosed with autism. The conventional therapies offered at the time were not working and Elaine, a professional acting coach, researched alternative options. She discovered the work of Dr. Stanley Greenspan, who encouraged her to follow Neal’s lead, and Dr. Barry Prizant, who helped her understand the sensory component that is difficult for many kids with autism.

Elaine entered Neal’s world by participating in his flapping, and then got her coaching students involved. She rallied her talent together training them in protocols recommended by Dr. Greenspan, incorporating performing arts, to help Neal. Her creative team trained 7-10 hours a day. A blogger recommended she start her own program, and The Miracle Project was born.

By 2005, her team had created a theater program with and for children with autism and other disabilities. They wrote a musical based on the kids’ ideas. A filmmaker discovered them and created the Emmy-winning HBO documentary, “Autism: The Musical.”

Word spread and CVS Caremark All Kids Can awarded a $50,000 grant to expand The Miracle Project programming to public schools in San Diego and San Jose. “Seven Keys to Unlock Autism,” began in April, 2012 with a community-wide presentation in both cities. Participants ranged from politicians to therapists to store owners. Seven schools in each area were chosen to participate in training, including 4-day intensives, webinars, and phone counsels.

Elaine was excited about their success. “We get marvelous feedback! Older kids with autism who have never been expressive now are. Nonverbal children are…doing things like creating mini-films.”

The grant from CVS Caremark allowed them to bring in both underserved and upper class kids and Elaine is thrilled that the program has helped so many from such a wide range of backgrounds. “The kids who are not impacted by autism love going!” One popular 14-year old girl said, “I’m more myself in this class than I am with my best friends.” Another teen said she realized that she’d been “disabling my own life” with poor choices and that The Miracle Project changed her life.

Elaine’s work helped her own son, Neal, become independent. Now, he is not only a successfully employed adult, he is also a self-proclaimed autism emissary and speaker, who has presented to the U.N. on World Autism Day and at Dr. Brazleton’s Profectum Conference.

Neal Hall, a young man thriving with autism, at camp.

The Miracle Project has created 9 plays for kids with special needs. At present, the program is only available in schools in San Diego and San Jose, and in workshops in New York City and Los Angeles, but a town in Missouri recently showed interest and is raising funds to bring the program there. Elaine and Neal want people with autism and other disabilities to be accepted for who they are, to follow their own interests, and to be their own advocates. The Miracle Project can help them do it!

For more information on how you can bring The Miracle Project to your town, visit http://www.themiracleproject.org/ and make sure to “Like” CVS Caremark All Kids Can on Facebook to learn more about the unique programs they support!

This is one of a series of posts sponsored by CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a commitment to making life better for children with disabilities.

The post The Miracle Project: Interview with Elaine Hall, Helping Kids with #Autism #ad appeared first on Mom-Blog.

I have been dying for the LONGEST time to get wall decals! I was thrilled to get one from RoomMates Wall Decals. They carry all kinds of decals, from sports teams to Disney to Star Wars. This one was very easy to peel and place.

This full-sized Merida came in 2 sections, making it easy and we put her arrows right by her hand. It was easy to place, sticky enough to stay but easy to pull off and reposition. It looks so natural, doesn’t it? I love how her green dress and bright red hair liven up the white (and somewhat colored on) walls of our playroom!

RoomMates also carries borders, trim, wallpaper murals-lots to choose from and reasonably priced too. As for Amelia, she loves her Merida decal.

Winter is coming! Whoa, Amelia, stop channeling Arya…

Disclosure: I received a sample of RoomMates Wall Decals for review. All opinions are my own.

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This June, why not hop on down to Rita’s Ice for a quick cool off and a good cause? From June 5 to June 18, 625 Rita’s locations are going to ask their patrons to donate $1 for a paper lemon and a good cause. They’re working together to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which helps fight against childhood cancer. You can also Text-to-Donate a one time $5 donation.

Check out ALSF on  Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter, and Rita’s Ice too.

*We* have not had a free second to go yet, I’m sorry to say, but we’ll squeak it in when we get a chance!  I did see a documentary on Alex’s Lemonade Stand this weekend about Alex, who lost her battle with cancer at the tender age of 8, but started a legacy that can helps lots of kids fight cancer.

Rita’s and Alex’s Lemonade are also hosting a “Pin it to win it” contest, giving away a year’s worth of Rita’s Ice and ALSF gear.

Disclosure: I received 4 free Rita’s Italian Ice Coupons.  All opinions are my own.

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I defy you to resist the cuteness!

“Peppa Pig and the Muddy Puddles” by is the delightful story of a little girl pig, Peppa, who wants to play in a muddy puddle – unfortunately, there’s no mud after the rain storm because the whole town is flooded! Instead of playing, Peppa gets in a boat with her grandfather and they help everyone in the town.  I love how she plunges in and helps during a crisis, while wishing and hoping for her puddles. And good for her, because in the end, she gets her wish once the flood recedes.

And the kids?

The girls loved this book! They were distracted when we started reading as usual, but once the mud puddles came into play, they laughed and enjoyed it. (They themselves are great mud puddle enthusiasts, as I can tell from their school boots which came home yesterday!)

The book is based on the TV series, Peppa Pig, which I’m new to but sounds like a great show. It’s hardcover (and it’s just precious!) and retails for $12.99. You can get to know Peppa at her website with activities and clips, and join in contests and fun activities at Peppa Pig’s official US Facebook page or on Twitter.

The package also came with the Peppa Pig plush toy – Hug ‘n Oink™ Peppa. She’s adorable! You squeeze her and she says the most adorable things about how she loves to be hugged – or she oinks.  It’s too much! I thought I’d die from cuteness. I let Zoe sleep with her because we both just squealed when we saw and heard her:

Just say “Awww.” You know you want to.

Disclosure: I received a sample of Peppa Pig products for review. All  thoughts & opinions are my own.

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Image courtesy of artur84 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You might know that this is a great tool if you live in a gluten-free household, like I do.  Do you know how to clean it for long life? Learn how with my article on Home Made Simple:

How to Wash Microfiber Items

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I was sitting in the meeting, though, and the Occupational Therapist, was giving her piece and said, “We do that and then we reward, like giving her a marshmallow…”

At that point, I was stunned. She finished her part, asked if there were any questions and then went back to her work day. So the special ed teacher and I went on. We were all the way to behavioral supports before I said something.

Because, you see, after 2 IEP meetings I had completely forgot that I’d NOT heard the requirement I requested last year for them not have any food not brought in from home. AUGH. I’d been working so closely to bring in substitute snacks and food for every single “treat” event that I’d thought this was covered and hadn’t remembered to include it in the IEP. Was it even included last year? I’m thoroughly opposed to using food as a reward for schoolwork.

And, marshmallows? Ugh. The ingredients of marshmallows are:

• Sugar. We don’t give our kids sugar at all. Probably made with GM’s if not GMO’s, but honestly, TRULY bad for you. Agave nectar, honey, Xylitol – all better, depends what your child can tolerate.
• Guar or other gum. Sadly, gums contain MSG, a neurotoxin, which means it wrecks your neural system in your brain. Think Alzheimers.
• Corn syrup. We don’t give our kids corn products. Loaded with GMOs, plus corn probably contains glutens according to this article.
• Food coloring, specifically blue dye in white marshmallows. Thanks to One Punky Mama for the head’s up on that one!

Great. Chris even said, “Now we know why she’s been having problems lately.”

So I hope and pray that this is now resolved. (Yes, I got the IEP back, but I literally don’t even have 5 minutes to read it this week.) Which tells me that you have to be EVER vigilant, and it’s exhausting, and as I mentioned yesterday in my video.

***

In other news in the world of autism, 14 year old Alex Spourdalakis was killed on Sunday. You’ll remember that I posted about this child with severe autism not getting appropriate medical treatment this spring and essentially being tortured (chained to bed naked for 59 days) by Loyola Hospital. He was found stabbed to death with his mother and godmother passed out on the bed. They were taken to the hospital and found to have narcotics in their system. Dorothy, his mother, was arrested and both she and the godmother with first degree murder.

First of all, may Alex rest in peace. It’s my hope that he is with God now. Secondly, I feel horrible about this. I truly believe that murder is NEVER the answer, but I wonder what was going through these women’s brains when they chose this course of actions. How far into the land of despair could they have been? Had caring for Alex in such poverty against so many odds made them mentally break down? I’m sick about it, because whatever you think, that poor boy did  not deserve the awful life he’d been living since he first experienced such severe pain back in the fall.  Of course, we don’t know all the details, but this is a true tragedy.

If you are raising a child with a disability that makes them violent (and autism DOESN’T on its own make you violent, OK??), PLEASE seek help for yourself as well as your child! Email me, honestly, and I’ll help you find support, one way or another, if you need it. Hurting your child out of desperation, killing him because you can’t see a good future right now, is never the answer. Please believe that there is a way!
***

And now for some levity, because we need it:

Amelia & Zoe in The Playhouse at Tuckerton Seaport

The post Unending Vigilance; Alex Spourdalakis Tragedy appeared first on Mom-Blog.

That’s why I’m applying for this seaon’s Mamavation Bootcamp, which is being run in conjunction with the amazing Healthy Child, Healthy World. You can check out my video here:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Please root for me. I’d love to be a part of this and share what I learn with you! Please take a second to help me out by tweeting this – just by clicking here:

#Mamavation & @Healthy_child are teaching moms to detoxify their home & I’m in support of @ginabad, http://bit.ly/16CMjgq

Thanks!

We will be delaying “Lessons in Parenting Special Needs” until tomorrow, just pretend you’re one day behind, like I am, and you’re good to go!

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The Jersey Shore is back, and if you’re looking for a great day to spend with the kids, Tuckerton Seaport is great fun! We were invited for a special day to explore the seaport, get a tour, and make a craft on Saturday for the Privateers & Pirates Festival! The seaport was simply covered with pirates, and the kids loved it. There were so many things that captured their imagination.

They couldn’t get enough of the cutouts:

Amelia enjoyed walking the plank:

Zoe helped the duck decoy dude decoy:

As usual, they steered the ship:

There were whip demonstrations, cannon demonstrations (that scared the boogers out of the girls), a rockin’ pirates band, The Valhalla Pirates, and actual pirates (better known as the awesome folks from Sea Shepherd).

Tuckerton has lots of other activites too. There were also animals, a playhouse & climbable play ship, and miniature golf, plus it’s one of the Jersey Coast lighthouses.  We took the tour and climbed the lighthouse, saw the exhibits, and pet the goats. There was even a train exhibit, which was Zoe’s second favorite part:

We had a great day that ended with them making wooden boats (they did a great job on this), and completely wiped out. I loved it here, and the kids did too!

Tuckerton Seaport is a non-profit organization and maritime museum in the heart of New Jersey that hosts lots of events.  June 21st is their Baymen’s Seafood & Music Festival, and one that sounds really cool that we’ll miss is the Red Wine & Blues Festival on June 29th but they have a summer filled with great activities! I think the seaport too is really great for little kids and kids with disabilities. It was just the right speed for Zoe – not crazy or overwhelming, and lots of little kid-sized places to explore.

I have been compensated for this blog. All opinions are my own.

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Images & links from Amazon affiliate program. I received a copy of this book for review purposes.

Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monniger is a romance with no easy answers.  Margaret is the wife of a soldier who is brain dead and the mother of young son, who gets an invitation to leave her Maine farm and be part of D.C. ceremony with the president for a bill that benefits her husband’s care and ends up swept off her feet.

The Good
I’m a sucker for a complex, grown-up situation with no easy solution. There is some foreshadowing, but enough doubt to leave me guessing how things would end, which I love. The tone of the book is aid back, and there is something in it that calls to mind the injured husband time after time. Some of the scenes are quite poignant, when they could have easily turned sappy or overtly sexual. The entire romance was handled with grace and poise.

For the most part, the characters felt true to life and the story was believable and intelligent. I was especially intrigued by how the son was portrayed. Gordon is given his own voice, and it was masterfully done.  I loved the way his character was oblivious-yet-in-the-know about everything the adults did and said. Margaret how had no idea how to gage his feelings, and Gordon himself really doesn’t have the skill to articulate them either.  Beautifully written, as were the scenes about his grandfather, who lost his son in such an unexpected way.

The Bad
A few things bothered me.  Monninger has a skewed idea of women’s confidence! I can tell you from the 1000′s of women I’ve known in my life – if you’re wearing someone else’s ball gown and you adjust it TWICE, you’re not feeling self confident. Nope. Not by half.

Charlie is a bit too perfect.  I mean, really?  He was the ideal man, from everything he did and even a friend says she keeps waiting for him to do the wrong thing, never happens.  He needed a character flaw, just one!

And my final complaint: the cigar scene.  For some reason, every women in this book loved when a man smokes a cigar, which is fine, but then it went ON AND ON about how great the cigar thing was. Some of us think cigars are toxic, smelly, and make us sick or headachy so I was really turned off by all those scenes.

Overall Opinion
Cigars notwithstanding, I liked this book. It engaged me right away and the complexity of the situation kept me turning pages. A good read if you like literary books and intelligent, complex romance.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate this review; all opinions are my own.

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