From Pedicures to Puddles

"It's a bird! It's a plane!..."

2011-08-02T22:19:00.000-05:00

No! It's Mrs. Nelson's Super Learners!

I have been spending the last week or so working in my classroom and looking foward to meeting my new firsties! I decided on a Superhero theme and have run wild with it. (at least my husband thinks so) I really like the idea of encouraging them to see that our good manners and kind words are our super powers.

Here is my attempt at making my board 3D. I added a wire with a bird and a paper airplane. Designs were created by Paper and Pigtails.

The soon to be student led word wall

This area will eventually be our comfy classroom library where they can cozy up and read a book.

The calendar/math wall

My favorite wall! This is our word chunk wall. The Super Vowels as I call them are superheroes with a vowel on their chest. We will add our word chunks under the vowel they begin with. This wall was a big help last year when they were writing. Here is last year's Word chunk wall:

Being a "boy mom" makes me wonder if the superhero theme is too boyish for my girly first graders. I plan to add a superhero girl to the library wall, but will that do the trick? What do you think? I tried hard to use the likeness of kids and cartoon superheroes rather than commercial superheroes (batman, superman, etc)

My gut tells me it is fine, but I am trying to look at it from a parent's standpoint. I would love your thoughts.

I love a good Blog Party!

2011-08-02T21:31:00.002-05:00

If you are a Pedicures to Puddles reader then you know that this is a place for women that have boys in their lives to laugh, relate and share what it is like to be a "boy mom". If this is your first time stopping by, Welcome! I am Tiffany, a First Grade teacher by day and a superhero fighting, lego building, light saber swinging momma by night. Cohen or "The Buddy" as I call him, is soon to be 3 years old and is where I get all of my material for this blog. Especially in the "You know you're a boy mom when" posts. The Buddy's current favorite bedtime story ( one of at least 3 a night) is I Love You Stinky Face. He now recites it with us and it is really cute :o)

I like to share fun shopping finds that pertain to boys as well as fun boy birthday party themes. If you like something you see, please feel free to rate it at the bottom of the post or comment about it. I LOVE comments! If there is something you feel is missing, let me know and I will seek it out. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your stay! I do hope you will come back soon :o)

I am linking up to M.O.B. Society. Click link to see allllll the boy moms out there!

You won't want to lego these ideas! hehe

2011-07-05T22:38:00.000-05:00

I remember loving lego's just as much as The Buddy does. I figure we aren't the only house stepping on legos in the middle of the night (ouch!) :o) Check out these fun finds for your buddy's obsession.

DIY Gummi Legos and Ice Tray

Lego Storage (I haven't confirmed whether they ship to the US, but still wanted you to see it)

DIY lego necklace

DIY Lego belt

Rolling cookie cutter

Playroom coaster

And to wrap it all up, no better way than with these EASY gift bags:

You just need a gift bag, paper in coordinating colors, and 1 1/2" circle punch

Idea: Homemaking Fun

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Mad for MADPAX

2011-04-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Is your buddy a step ahead of the norm? If he is the guy that knows his own style and can handle the "packarazzi" that will come with this kinds of back pack, then MAD PAX is for you!

I love these bags because it breaks the assembly line of boring back packs for boys out there. Anyone else tired of character bags or sports themed bags for boys...hand raised here! Toddler size coming soon!

Shop Here: http://www.madpax.com/

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Jumpin' for the Gyro!

2011-04-17T22:10:00.001-05:00

Brilliant, I must say! This product is one of those, "Yeah, that's what I need!". It is a snack bowl that will not spill! It is equiped with 360 technology that keeps the bowl upright no matter how you twist it and turn it.

I literally could have used this product today. The Buddy is all about doing things himself right now and in the process of putting his snack on the counter, he dumped them everywhere. Our dog quickly came to his rescue; which just further enraged The Buddy. The Gyro Bowl could avoid this whole scene! The Gyro Bowl can be found here: https://www.buygyrobowl.com/flare/next?rtag=gyrobowl&

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

My tot clock

2011-02-27T21:41:00.000-06:00

I feel blessed to have a son that sleeps late on weekends and totally rocks his naps, but I have friends that struggle with these traits. The worst part of toddlers not sleeping well is the fact that they can't tell time. If only they knew it was 5AM, right!?Well, Pamela Gonzalez created this product out of her own sleep deprivation. Her oldest at 2 years old was moved to a big boy bed and suddently had trouble sleeping.

She has thought of everything with this product! My Tot Clock is an all-in-one sleep aid, alarm clock, nightlight, and timer for children ages 2+. It teaches little ones when to sleep (blue light) and when it's okay to get out of bed (yellow light). It also plays bedtime stories, lullabies, fun wake music, and even white noise (like ocean sounds)! As an added bonus, My Tot Clock has a light blue light for nap time, a red light for timeout, and a green light for any positive timed activity. Perfect for those young enough to start learning a daily routine, but not old enough to be able to tell time. Also great for their sleepy parents! The best part is it is guaranteed better sleep or your money back!

A good friend of mine was actually a part of this product study and is even quoted on the front of the website. She is so pleased with this product and what it did for her to boys. I know you will feel the same! Go check it out here: My Tot Clock

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion.

Party Inspiration

2011-02-21T15:32:00.001-06:00

My favorite past time is shopping. Whether it is online or in the store, I can find something to buy most anywhwere I am. My favorite hobby is party planning, so the two often come together.

I came across some cool finds that would be great for a rockstar party that any little dude would love. Hope this provides a bit of inspiration for you!

You design it or ask for it and they create it! These are personalized temporary tattoos! I am not particularly a fan of these everyday on The Buddy, but as a party favor it totally works! Plus you can get 6 for $10 which is a fabulous price for a party favor nobody else on the block will have!

Source: ETSY Buttonhead

Need an activity for your rock star party that you now MUST host because you have cool favors? How about an air guitar contest with inflatable guitars!? These are only 1.99 each.

Source: Party Cheap

I guess we should back up. A party isn't a soiree until you have THE perfect invitation. There is nothing like making your guest feel like a VIP! These personalized backstage pass invites are great. Purchase lanyards with clear pockets from any old office supply store and your guests are ready to go!

Source: Ebay

This party isn't complete without some goodies. These cookie cutters can be found at The Celebration Shoppe.

Someone please plan this party! I would love to feature it. :o)

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion.

Work Zone Ahead

2011-02-19T22:24:00.000-06:00

As you can see from THESE parties, my friend and fellow boy mom, Sarah, is a fabulous party planner. She is a girl after my own heart that knows "Love is in the details". She always thinks of everything which creates the best parties! I enjoy talking parties with her and am excited to show you her son, Caden's 2nd birthday.

Enjoy the inspiration!

Perfect birthday banner in the party colors.

Entry area: She had guests sign a book for the birthday boy's library. I do the same and love the results. You will to for years to come.

Happy Birthday Boy and Dad

Simple yet perfect cake

I love the use of coordinating fabric as table runners. The already owned dump truck and flowers is a perfect (not girly) floral centerpiece.

The Buddy SO enjoyed receiving his Thank you gift.

The happy family!

My favorite picture of the Birthday boy :o)

Super simple yet looks great paper cones

Oriental trading cups filled with scrapbook paper, construction hats, and Bob the Builder coloring books. Guests went away with lots of goodies! (LOVE the nuts and bolts fabric runner!)

Age appropriate activity...digging in the dirt

By far my favorite party detail! The adorable construction hats on brownies served on contruction plans!

Super simple containers found at your local feed/supply store with vinyl lettering goes a looooong way. To perfect!

I always enjoy Sarah's creations and knew you would to. What do ya think? Any details you will tak away?

Vintage Surf

2011-02-18T23:45:00.002-06:00

**Our room was featured on The Shopping Mamma's blog. Vote for it HERE!**

With THIS party as my inspiration, I decided to redo The Buddy's room. I loved his nursery, but he seemed to grow out of it so quickly. He loves it....what do you think?

Palm tree Growth Chart (Ebay)

Vintage Ore with hooks ( local flea market)

Personalized sign: Canton Trade Days

VW bus: Ross

Lighthouse: Hobby Lobby

Surf Shack tissue holder: Ross

book shelf: Target

Bedding: Pottery Barn Kids

Life preserver: Canton Trade Days

C: Joanne's Fabric

Child size adirondack chair: Joanne's Fabric

Custom Name frame, surf board from friends

Life preserver: Hobby Lobby

BEFORE

I would love to feature your little one's room! Send them my way at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Fisher kids

2011-01-29T20:58:00.000-06:00

Fisher Kids is a responsibility system that teaches your little dude household responsibility, personal accountability as well as financial responsibility. If you are like me, you think often of the kind of man you want your son to become and how to get him there. This system is a perfect way to implement those qualities in your son in a kid friendly appropriate way.

The idea is simple and patterned after the scripture that reads: "If I fish for you, you eat for a day. If I teach you to fish, you eat for a lifetime." The fisher kids responsibility station has been developed to provide an engaging, stylish, organized, and streamlined aid for parents as we all struggle tirelessly to raise independent, responsible children.

The support doesn't stop there! You also receive supportive newsletters to offer tops, tools, and relevent articles. My favorite feature is the Give it, Save it, Spend it section. I truly wish that was a skill that was given to me during childhood. It is a priority to teach this to The Buddy and this is a great way to do it!

Complete Kit $48.00: Includes everything you need to get started! This is a responsibility station for one child...the ideal product to offer full ownership and accountability to your child as you teach household responsibility, accountability, and financial responsibility. Includes one 16" X 16" magnetic pegboard, hanging hardware, pegboard hooks, dry-erase weekly responsibility magnet, paycheck notepad, chore chooser, chore sticks, 3 money bags, and parent's guide.

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

"Add some style to your dial!"

2011-01-23T10:47:00.001-06:00

While enjoying some 'me' time this morning I came across a fabulous new site. I can't wait to share it with you! The Monogram Merchant has to be the best gift website I have seen in a long time. My mind is racing with wedding gift, party decor, and favor ideas. My favorite of their products has to be the personalized iphone covers.

The possibilites are endless for this gift!

Boy Mom to be and her little ones initials
Teacher gift
Graduation
Birthday
Etc!

WARNING: you will need a good amount of 'me' time to see all the great things The Monogram Merchant has to offer! Have fun! Your are about to be the best gift giver!

* This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2011-01-10T22:36:00.000-06:00

THIS creates the same excitement in your little one as the Nordstrom Semi-Annual Sale does in you :o)

Keeping it Real

2011-01-10T22:28:00.000-06:00

I would love to say that The Buddy is a "momma's boy" but unfortunately that hasn't been the case lately. I am not sure what caused the shift. Daddy is in the number one spot now and my efforts are going unnoticed. I mean The Buddy can't even decide if he likes Buzz or Woody more. but daddy? Oh yeah, he loooves his daddy!

So I started wondering...
Anyone ever been here? Did it last long?

Me: "Hey buddy, wanna play hungry hippo?"

The buddy: "nnnnnnnooo!"

Next thing I see...

(Sigh)....so do I just wait it out or start the bribes??

Give the Gift of Words

2010-10-31T11:41:00.000-05:00

I am in love with all children's books right now and am always looking for great books for The Buddy. Here are a few of my favorites right now.

First is The Tickle Monster Kit by Suzanne Kaufman. The kit comes with a hardback book, a pair of tickle mits and a cool box to carry it all. The tickle mits are complete with finger holes so you can easily turn the pages. Beware of lots of giggles! The Buddy will love this story and wearing the mits himself. This is at the top of our book list this Christmas!

$34.99

The Newest Kit from Suzanne Kaufman is I love Monkey Discovery Kit. A Mom's Choice Award recepient; the I love Monkey kit is also on our list this year.

$23.07

As mentioned in THIS post, The Elf on the Shelf is now a tradition in most homes. I am eager to begin this tradition when The Budy is old enough to get it. If you haven't seen it, check out the website here.

Lastly, The Buddy LOVES his Sounds of the Wild book by Maurice Pledger. It is a unique pop up that has survived his many uses. Our favorite part is the realistic sounds on every page. We plan to get several more this Holiday season. I am also adding this to my gift list for The Buddy's friends.

$11.23

I would love to know what books you are buying for your Buddy. I literally buy books every weekend for my classroom and The Buddy. I am always up for a new good book!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

On your mark...Get set...Start taping!

2010-09-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

I am often poking around on the internet and find some fun things! Decorative tape is really "in" right now and this tape is perfect for The Buddy. The Autobahn Tape kit lets you create roads wherever you would like! How fun is that!!

The possibilities are endless and although pricey, it looks like a lot of fun! Is this a product that your son would enjoy??

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Mudpuppy

2010-09-21T21:47:00.000-05:00

Stationary sounds like such a girly kind of thing, but there is nothing girly about good manners! I am a firm believer in the hand written thank you and hope to instill the same habit in The Buddy. Any little dude would enjoy sending a hand written note on Mudpuppy Stationary!

This stationary boasts high quality paper and kid friendly design. Makes a great kid gift too!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

2010-09-20T23:17:00.000-05:00

Although I am so busy with my new teaching position (and have neglected my favorite past time lately) I still LOVE the Fall! All the decorating possibilities make me giddy and creative Halloween costumes make me swoon :o). I have actually won many a costume contest. A few of my favorite wins were these:

Cheerleader Barbie...still in the box

Thing 1 and Thing 2 with Cat in the hat (I am thing 1)

And Ugly Betty last year (this one still makes me laugh)

So as you can see, I am not a fan of store bought costumes. The Buddy was recently invited to a kids only costume party which is giving me anxiety to pick a cool costume for him.

Here are some fun ones from Etsy that I have stumbled on

It reminds me of the Travelocity gnome :o)

Wild Thing

Bam Bam

What are your little buddies dressing up as? I would love to hear from you!

SafeTvision

2010-09-14T22:48:00.000-05:00

If the "big boy" in your house is anything like my hubby, then he has a loving relationship with his flatscreen. (He actually talked me into camping out allllll night on Black Friday for the dang thing!) Any time The Buddy gets too close to his prize possession he is quick to move him.

After stumbling across this invention I had that , "why didn't I think of that" feeling! Check it out and I bet you do too.

safeTVision is a 100% TV Screen Protector that shields your LCD TV or Plasma TV from flying objects, dust and finger prints. To answer your hubby...the TV screen cover does not distort the HD picture at all!!

The screen cover design is invisible and lightweight. Easy to install with no tools or straps needed. It is as simple to remove as it is to install.

Maybe THIS will be on my black Friday list this year :o) $49-$129

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

For Your Petite Picasso

2010-09-06T22:37:00.000-05:00

I love personalized stuff and this retro style drawing pad is something I am really "drawn" to right now! If your petite picasso needs some work on his name, this product offers a perfect place to practice. Now he can sign his artwork for grandma! How fun is that!?

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Zubbles of Fun

2010-08-30T21:09:00.001-05:00

What could make bubbles more fun!? How about colored bubbles?? The Buddy would love these! The best part is that they are non toxic, stain free and brightly colored. When the dye is exposed to air, water or pressure it disappears giving you hours of fun and hardly any mess!

Zubbles comes in Blazing Blue or Presto Pink! What a fabulous party favor...

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

"You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2010-08-29T02:54:00.000-05:00

...in order to cut his finger nails, you have to cut Woody's first.

If you have a "You know you're a boy mom when" to share, please feel free to pass it along at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com. The great thing about these are that we can all relate, so send them our way :o)

Hiatus

2010-08-16T22:56:00.000-05:00

I hate to do this too you so soon after my break a couple of weeks ago; however I have a new job as of Friday evening as a First Grade Teacher for Frisco ISD! I have been feverishly working to make a blank classroom come alive while counting down to Meet the Teacher night this Friday! YIKES!

I am not sure how long it will be until I can update you with some fun finds, but I am hoping it is sooner rather than later. As always, please feel free to pass on your fun finds, boy stories and parties!!

Thank you for your patience!

Cleatskins

2010-08-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

With the beginning of the school year, brings the beginning of sports seasons!

Created by a former college athlete, Cleatskins are an accessory designed to slip over cleated footwear! Seems brilliant to me :o) They are made of Compression Molded Rubber and designed for families involved in soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, rugby, softball, field hockey, golf, and any other sport where protecting your shoes off the field is necessary.

At $19.95 to $24.95, I am considering cleatskin kids as a gift for a little cousin that has EVERY other soccer accessory known to man....BUT Cleatskins! And get this...they are machine washable! In fact, The Hubby needs a pair too.

LIKE Cleatskins on Facebook and receive coupon codes from time to time!
CODE: back2school
for 20% off your entire order!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Time to Party Thursday: a Chutes and Ladders 2nd Birthday!

2010-08-11T23:39:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share with you The Buddy's birthday party! He is turning 2 and loves nothing more than climbing on everything and sliding on his slides. This had me searching for a party theme that would fit his current personality. Chutes and Ladders is near and dear to my heart as a favorite game growing up and a fabulous theme to portray our little guy! Plus, I haven't seen it done before and I love a challenge :o)

We started with the Invites/logo. I contacted Pen & Paper Flowers to create something for us. She was seriously great to work with and worked hard to capture exactly what I wanted. I would recommend her a thousand times! My favorite part is the working spinner :o)

We then stumbled upon this perfect party location: Celebration Park in Allen, TX

Although I will never plan an August party outside in Texas again, this location was a lot of fun!

Here are the party details:

Cake made by Cakes by Auntie M

Beyond what we were expecting!

It is a family tradition to have cutouts at our parties!

(here is Cohen's first Bday cutout).

These are to mimick the mover pieces

of a Chutes and Ladders game.

Boxed Lunches were super easy and the kids loved them!

Favors: Chutes and Ladders game per family and personalized bubbles. We also started a tradition last year to choose a book with the party theme for everyone to sign for Cohen's library. It is great to look back at what friends and family wrote.

Snack Buffet

We had a lot of fun!

I couldn't have pulled it off without the help of all our family and friends!! Especially this guy:

And we would do it allllll over again. Especially to see this face:

If you have a party, baby shower, or fun find please pass it on to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com

ReUsies

2010-08-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

I try to be aware of ways our family can be more "green" and think ReUsies has a great product to get us in the right direction! ReUsies are reusable snack and sandwich bags that look cool too. There are several designs to choose from and when you buy 4 or More and use code: 4ORMORE you receive FREE shipping!

Sandwich size

Snack size

I think these bags could be useful for lots of things. They run between $6 and $9 each. One Reusie has the potential to eliminate hundreds of plastic bags. ReUsies™ are 100% cotton lined with leak-resistant nylon and are secured with Velcro® closures.

Sounds like a great addition to your Back to School shopping!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

BACK(pack) TO SCHOOL!

2010-08-09T23:04:00.002-05:00

**Note : Time to Party Tuesday will be moved to Thursday this week :o)

Although The Buddy is only promoting to the 2 year old room at school, a shiny new back pack is still in order! New school supplies make me giddy! There is nothing like a brand new pad of paper and a really good inky pen!! Back to packs though...I have my eyes on a few cool ones. Check em out!

$24.95 at One Step Ahead

** This preschool designed bag opens across the top rather than on the side for easier opening.

Me-to-a-tee personalized backpack by Em Tanner Designs

** You can choose back pack color and every little detail about your little one!

$49 Messenger bag with back pack straps from Fleurville

** Comes with removable insulated lunch bag

** boasts reflective tape accents and made of PVC

AND for more fun, HERE is an awesome FREE printable to add to your cool new back pack!

Happy Shopping and if you're in Texas, TAX FREE weekend is August 20-22 :o)

Life Improvement Store

2010-08-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Otherwise known as IKEA! I am spoiled and a mere 5 miles from an IKEA store and often forget that many don't live close to one. I was just in the store last week to pick up some ~~cheap~~ affordable frames for the Chutes and Ladders party (more on that soon), but headed back there today with some friends that have never been before. Seeing the store through their eyes was a lot of fun! AND my 2011 IKEA catalog came in the mail yesterday. Have you gotten yours yet? If not, text JOIN to 62345 to get on the list! (if you do not know what IKEA is, STOP what you are doing and go check it out....I will wait for ya)

Although it is difficult to narrow down the best finds at IKEA, my favorite recent purchase was a mini-kitchen for The Buddy. (PAGE 206 of catalog)

Bottom half: $99.00 Top half: $39.00

My favorite things about this kitchen:

I love the simple design and that it isn't girly at all!
It is created with height adjustable legs! (we currently have the legs off of it to accommodate my little guy but it will grow with him)
It's burners light up! The Buddy thinks that is really cool!

As you may know, IKEA items are ~~assemble at your own risk~~ created for you to assemble at home. This project took us a nap time to put together. He was stoked to play with it when he woke up. He said, "WOW" when he saw it :o)

They even have a lot of great accessories to make this a perfect play area. We bought These:

$9.99

$5.99

$4.99

This would also make a great Christmas gift! Goodness knows it is never too early to plan for Christmas :o)

Vacay!...well sorta

2010-08-01T20:24:00.000-05:00

It is party week, folks! We are eye ball deep into swim lessons, getting ready for company and party planning here at the Nelson house. In light of this, I will be absent this week. I hope that you will forgive me and I will see you first thing next week! :o)

In the meantime, please feel free to pass on your parties, back to school ideas and "You know you're a boy mom when..."feature while I am out and we will reconvene next Monday. Thanks, friends and I will "see" you soon!

Tag! You're It

2010-07-29T22:59:00.001-05:00

In the days leading up to The Buddy's first day of preschool, I was itching to figure out a way to label all of his things. There are options that slide around sippy cups, iron on clothing labels, to label pacifiers...even thin ones to label your pencils! I didn't know what to choose!?

Then I found Kiddotags.com. They specialize in custom name labels that stick to your Kiddo's toys, bottles, cups, pacifiers, etc. The best part is they are Dishwasher and Microwave Safe, Waterproof, Weather-proof (UV-Resistant) and scuff-proof!

My FAVORITE item is their NEW Value Pack! This nifty pack includes:

•80 Pencil Thin Kiddo Tags

•30 Mini Kiddo Tags

•20 Polka Dot Kiddo Tags

•5 Pair of Shoe Dots

•2 Bag Tags

That is 132 tags for $34.99!! Coming from someone who paid over $50 for half the amount of labels, I am kicking myself for not doing better research! The other cool option is that as you tweak your custom design, it lets you view your work. That way you know exactly what your getting.

Warning** Customizing can be addicting!

Kiddotags is also introducing their new Peek-A-Boo line of unique customizable name tags

Wouldn't this make a perfect back to school gift for your little buddy?? What product is your MUST HAVE before school starts??

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

A 'FIN'tastic FREE Printable

2010-07-29T00:01:00.006-05:00

The beginning of the school year is approaching fast so I thought I would share a gift idea that I am planning to us. I came across THESE cool soaps last week. You could use them for an End of summer/Back to School party gift OR a Teacher Welcome gift!

"Looking forward to a 'FIN'tastic Year!"

"Summer is O'FISH'ally Over!"

Isn't it amazing that these are soap!? And only $4.99 Each!!

I plan to purchase some of these ca-ute soaps and add one of THESE tags:

This project is super easy! All that you need is some cute scrapbook paper and a 3 inch circle punch! These would also make perfect party favors OR balloon weights for your next Swim/Ocean party :o)

Download Printable HERE

Lunchbox Love

2010-07-28T00:01:00.009-05:00

Do you have fond memories of receiving notes in your lunchbox growing up? Like everything else since we were kids, Say Please has evolved those hand written smile makers into a great product. Lunchbox Love is a collection of positive notes and fun trivia for your Buddy's lunchbox, backpack, binder, or pillow.

At $3.99 a volume (and 8 impressive volumes offered), I think these would make great for the first day of school? Or even stocking stuffers! (It's never too early!)

The front is always a positive phrase and the back is always interesting trivia. Wouldn't your Buddy enjoy receiving these!?

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Time to Party Tuesday: Blue and Green

2010-07-27T00:01:00.006-05:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I am drawn to the blue and green party color combo. It reminds me of Back to School time (I don't know why, but it does) These two parties do an awe inspiring job of carrying a color scheme throughout the entire party!

THIS party brings a preppy feel to a Swim theme!

I love the swim shorts logo!

Cupcakes in ice cream cones...too cute!

Personalized beach pails as favors

Simple seating area that looks great!

THIS party has been on my favorites list for a while. It is an unique Sing Along theme with the same blue and green color combo. If you haven't spent some time with Christy on P is for Party, you need to head there next and plan to be there for a while. I love her work, and as a fellow boy mom she will always be a great inspiration for boy parties :o)

Perfect tablescape

This look is as simple as adding a sticker to a plate...see, you can do that!

I love the clean look of the white cupcake base

sandwiches wrapped in scrapbook paper!

Individual microphones as party favors :o)

What other color combinations are you loving these days?? Please share! And as always, if you have a boy party to pass along, send it on over to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com

10 ways to go from party to Soiree!

2010-07-26T00:09:00.003-05:00

I am an Event Director by day and a party planner whenever there is a reason to celebrate! Which for me, is often :o) Today, I thought I would share with you my favorite hobby. I love celebrating people and what better way than a party??

Here are my personal TOP 10 Party Planning Guidelines.

1) Theme: Starting with a theme is most important because this will be your guide in making any decisions about the party. I always try to choose a theme that best fits the guest of honor. For instance, The Buddy, is a spunky almost 2yr old that loves to climb on anything that will hold him and to Slide...HE LOVES TO SLIDE! I put the two together and settled on a Chutes and Ladders theme!

{Invite made by Pen & Paper Flowers}

2)Color Scheme: Choosing a color scheme is always my next choice. It will help you in choosing party supplies. My favorite place to get party color combination options is in magazines. Fashion magazines are always a great resource for great new color combos. My favorite right now are Navy blue and lime green, Bright Orange and Pink as well as Grey with anything (Think Grey with Yellow, Grey with Pink, Grey with Turqoise)

FREE invitation printables

3) Invite/Favor: These two aspects should receive a lot of your attention. These are the 2 things that your guests will remember the most about your soiree.

When creating your invitation, please make sure that you give all necessary details pertaining to the party. Hosts sometimes list the park but no address...or whether there will be food served. Another popular addition is a rain delay. Hosts are choosing the next available weekend as a reschedule date in the instance that it rains on the party day. I haven't done this yet, but would be interested to try it in the future.

Party favors are a keepsake of the memory you provided for your guests. I highly recommend taking the time to think about a favor that compliments your party as much as possible. I also love a favor that has a use. For instance the favors at my Cupcakes and Cocktails 30th Birthday party were hand towels rolled up to look like cupcakes. The favor was easily taken apart and used as a hand towel.

4) Location, Location, Location: My Motto is - You Never Know Until You Ask - Party locations are all around you. It is always fun to think outside of the box when determining a party location. For instance, this weekend we are invited to a 4yr olds birthday party at the local firestation. My 30th Birthday was celebrated at a boutique that let me use the store during closed business hours. My guests felt like VIP shoppers and I got the atmosphere I wanted! Just remember: You Never Know Until You Ask :o)

5) Inspiration... Is EVERYWHERE. I find party slogans, themes and invitation wording all around me. From store ads/windows, to rhymes in my son's books, to movie quotes. If you start an inspiration file and stow away anything you find that you like, you will have an inspiration file of ideas to pull from when its time to celebrate someone.

{Kate Spade Store Ad}

{Inspired party detail}

6) Organization is Key. I have a very detailed To do list that is constantly being updated. It is helpful for me to get it out of my head and to write it down. It is also a great feeling to cross things off.

7) Timing. By timing I mean the time of the party. Are you planning to feed your guests a full lunch or just cake and ice cream. The time of your party will let your guests know what to expect. Even breakfast could be a cheaper option to feed guests than dinner. Keep this in mind when determining what kind of party you are hosting.

8) Do It Yourself (DIY)... I love coming across a project and making it my own. You can adjust almost any idea to fit your theme and these are the details that your guests will talk about to their friends later. The biggest compliment I have ever received after hosting a party was when I was told that I had thought of every detail. People appreciate the little things and you can't always purchase those at the party store. There are lots of fabulous party blogs out there to inspire you as well!

Homemade Cupcake Toppers

9) Delegate. Has anyone ever asked if they could bring something? OR if you need any help with anything? Your answer better be YES! I would love your help! There is no reason to carry the entire process on your own and it makes people feel great to be a part of things, so let em!

10) Enjoy. You have worked hard to celebrate the guest of honor and you should enjoy it! If you follow 1-9 you should be in great shape by Par-tay time!!

{ Enjoying my 30th birthday party with my sister}

I would LOVE to hear your party planning tips because I am all about new ideas!

Now that is smart!

2010-07-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

I always love a smart product that makes my life easier! That is what the Innobaby Packin Smart Stack N Seal does...makes life easier!

This all-in-One Storage Solution for Moms On-the-Go is now designed to store both liquid & dry! A must have diaper bag essential to store, dispense and organize formula, cereal, snacks, water, extra juice, pacifiers and more in one convenient place.

This will put an end to your diaper bag mess or endless search for the items you need. Twist-to-Seal design allows you to stack and interlock multiple containers while quality construction allows each use as simple as it can be. What is better than that!?

This post is not sponsored and 100 % my opinion!

Don't forget to Link up to our Blog Hop! Today is the last day to join us :o)

From a Distance

2010-07-22T00:01:00.006-05:00

**REMINDER: Tomorrow is the last day to link up to our blog hop! Your link will live in our "For Mommy" section once you link up :o) So...what are you waiting for??

We currently have the thermometer that I swipe across The Buddy's forehead and have been pleased with it, but there have been times that he is sick and sleeping and I want to check his temperature without waking him. Now there is Thermofocus! Thermofocus is the first non contact (at-distance) clinical forehead thermometer in the world.

Designed to allow you to take your baby's temperature without even touching him, It is enough to get Thermofocus close to your baby's forehead to see his body temperature in a few seconds.

This thermometer's measurements are quick, precise, hygienic, and safe! You can even measure the temp on food, room, bath water....anything!

A correct measurement is easily determined thanks to a LED system emitting two light beams (normal red light which is totally safe). As the thermometer is moved closer to the forehead, at the right distance the two beams converge to form a single red spot on the skin of the forehead.

I plan to pick up one of these for The Buddy soon :o) Great thing is you can find it at most retailers!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Baby Week: Mom Invented, Mom approved!

2010-07-21T00:01:00.064-05:00

These two products are invented by moms who see a need and fill it for the rest of us. Aren't we glad they do!?

First up is the Dropper Stopper!

Any product that makes things hands free is fabulous if you ask me! My dropper stopper is a stylish way to be hands free and The Buddy loves it too. It keeps his sippy within reach so he can grab it whenever he wants. ( and off the ground when he throws it ) My favorite feature is the generous amount of snap buttons running the length of the stopper. It makes it so I can attach it to almost anything and it holds anything I have tried! You may have seen other types of holders, but the Dropper Stopper truly is different because of the many snaps. If you are in the Dallas area, Sam Moon is even carrying them now! If not, you can find a retailer HERE. Happy shopping :o)

The Dropper Stopper comes in trendy fabrics that are mashine washable. I think it is a great gift for the 'Boy Mom' to be!

Next up is the PadaLily!

Have you ever seen this?? I think it is BRILLIANT! As a mom that stands all of 4' 11", I had a hard time lugging The Buddy in his carseat. It killed to carry the seat handle over my forearm! The Padlily fixes all that! It was invented and created by a fellow 'Boy Mom' soon after her third child was born. As her arm became sore from the carseat handle digging into her, the idea struck. She decided to invent a product that cushioned her arm and also looked stylish! I really could have used this product. If anyone out there has ever used one of these, let us know what how it worked for you!!

All Designs are reversible AND washable!

$26.00

Coco Blue $26.00

I can't wait to gift these to my new mommy friends!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Don't forget to Link up to our Blog Hop! Friday is the deadline to join us :o)

Time To Party Tuesday: Baby Week

2010-07-20T00:01:00.010-05:00

To continue with Baby Week, I want to show you a fabulous double baby shower given by my friend Caroline!

Double the Diapers, Double the Toys

Sisters are both expecting boys! Caroline, did an AAAmazing job of showering them.

No detail was left undone for this blue and brown bird themed baby shower!

The great thing about all of these details is they are easily DIY!

Guests enjoyed leaving wishes for the new 'Boy Moms' to be

Perfect drink spread!

If you haven't yet invested in a drink dispenser I would suggest watching the weekly Hobby Lobby ads. About once a month they have ALL glassware 50% off!

Creative Caroline and the glowing 'Boy Moms' to be

Check out party details HERE

As always, please feel free to pass on your boy parties to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com!

Also, Don't forget to join our Blog Hop! We are accepting links through Friday, so don't miss out.

Baby Week Part 1

2010-07-19T00:01:00.008-05:00

This week we are focusing on baby boys! I know that the majority of the items featured on P to P are for little buddies, but I wanted to share some fun finds that are geared toward's new mommies and the littlest dudes :o)

Also, If you are a mommy blogger, don't forget to link up to our Blog Hop below!! All blogs participating will be featured on our "for mommy" Page!!

THIS is not Neat!

THIS is Neat

How many of us have bolted from the restaurant table so the waiter doesn't see us leave behind the giant mess under the high chair?? Well the NeatNik Saucer was created by a fellow mom that knows that feeling! She created the saucer for that very reason and has found great success with it. If you haven't seen or heard of a NeatNik saucer yet, I bet you start noticing them soon.

So what is a NeatNik Saucer?? It is a "must have" for modern parents and deemed the "Mercedes-Benz of high chair covers" by JollyMom.com. The NeatNik saucer fits restaurant style high chairs while keeping food and toys germ free and off the floor. It is easily cleaned (with a swipe of a wipee) and completely portable (check out the folding tutorial). It even comes with a coordinating carry case with a pocket for wipees!

There are velcro rings around the seat of the saucer that holds pacifiers, toys, or whatever you want to keep in babies reach. It also boasts a wide reaching surface area so your little buddy doesn't touch any of the germ infested high chair or table.

This product will change the way you eat out with your family!

You can find it here

There is still time to Link up to our Blog Hop...

Link Love: Calling all 'Boy Moms'

2010-07-16T00:01:00.016-05:00

I am really enjoying the fellow mommy bloggers that I have come across since beginning the P to P adventure back in April. If you are anything like me, you can easily find yourself lost in blog land by hopping from one great blog to the next great blog. I thought it would be fun if we could all link up together! A Blog Hop! Who knows, you might just find a new blog bestie!!

We fight bad guys and still find time to make dinner :o) So, why not find other Super Mommy bloggers out there !? If you can relate to the world of dump trucks and lightsabers, then you have a place in our Blog Hop...so link up!

(This includes any bloggers that know and love those darn bug catchin, mud attractin, hooligans otherwise known as little boys. You don't have to be a 'Boy Mom')

You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2010-07-14T22:33:00.000-05:00

You're the only girl without cooties.

As always, if you have a "You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when.." to share, please do! The great thing about this feature is that we can all relate, so send yours to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Date with an Ace

2010-07-14T00:01:00.004-05:00

Welcome, Chic Click Carnival visitors!

I am not a baker.seriously! When asked to bring a dessert for a 4th of July BBQ, this is what I came up with:

Festive Marshmallow Pops that require NO baking :o)

So, when I find things that make it look like I know what I am doing (in less than 10 steps), I am all about it! With that said, I am dying to try the new baking supply line from Duff. Yeah, that Duff from Ace of Cakes. Have you seen this show?? Duff is the man behind Charm City Cakes outside of Baltimore. The story goes that he hired all of his pastry chef friends to design cakes with him. They make some amazing ~~overpriced~~ cakes! His goofy laugh is reason enough to tune in...just sayin.

Anyway, I was checking out the bakery aisle at Michael's yesterday (you know...to pick up some more sucker sticks) and saw THIS line of Cake Tattoos. Ever heard of a cake tattoo?? Me either!

It is a nifty package of tattoos that instantly turn any 2 layer cake into a work of art PLUS 20 toppers for either cupcakes or cookies. I am most interested in the toppers.

Have you tried any of the Duff products?? There are also cake mixes, fondant, sprinkles and such. If I wasn't already over my party budget for The Buddy's party next month (sad face)I would have figured out a way to try these out. On second thought...he will need cupcakes for school that day...{grin}

Thank goodness for 'Boy Moms' that raise Ace chefs :o)

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Time to Party Tuesday: A Pirate's Life

2010-07-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

Welcome, Chic Click Carnival visitors!

Today's Party feature is the perfect example of a fabulous party. Created by fellow boy mom, Stephanie, it has all the good stuff! A fun theme....check, great activities...check, a beautiful set up...check and inspiration out the wazoo...check, check!!

This one makes me excited to be a 'Boy Mom' and confirms my thinking that boy's parties really are more fun than girls :o)

Who wouldn't want to receive this invite!?

Homemade pirate sail used throughout the party

Like here and here

Activities included this awesome treasure map that marked each activity with a red X

The Final X led to this guy:

Click HERE to see what was in his treasure chest!

I am loving these cakes!!:

This just goes to show with a little effort snack food can look great on a table

Perfect favors!

So if you are thinking of hosting a pirate party, this is a great one for inspiration.

If you have hosted or attended a great boy party or shower, please send it to www.pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com

Cool Kicks

2010-07-12T00:01:00.005-05:00

Wecome, Chic Click Carnival!

The Buddy has more shoes than he will ever need and it isn't all my fault. The hubby loves his kicks too. So when a fellow boy mom (and friend) showed me the new kids line of Chuck Taylors, I knew the buddy needed a pair...or 4 :o)

I really like the shark pair!! They also have a line of Dr. Suess shoes that are pretty awesome too. The Chuck Taylor All Star Animals are on sale right now, so go grab a pair before they are gone!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Chic Click Carnival

2010-07-10T23:16:00.002-05:00

This week I'm participating in the Chic Click Carnival. If you are new to P to P, let me introduce myself...I'm Tiffany and this is where I share fun finds, parties, and stories with fellow 'Boy Moms'.

Right now I think my favorite post is from the "You know you're a boy mom when..." feature. This particular feature has happened to all of us that are raising little buddies!

My favorite peep of the week is The Sassy Seedling! I am always looking for cool boy finds and they have some great REVERSIBLE Bucket hats! They are even on sale for $10...I am thinking of stocking up for summer birthday gifts :o)

Caboose

2010-07-09T02:00:00.002-05:00

I am not sure what to think of the Caboose Diaper Potty, but I wanted to pass it along to you all in case you ever need to make small talk at your next stroller strides class...or wherever...hehe

I am actually totally intrigued by this product. It is a travel potty that uses a diaper as the liner. It is invented by a mother and made in the USofA. It is compact in size and can fit in your diaper bag or stroller.

This product seems to be a great thing to have handy for your potty training toddler. Anyone every try one out?? If so, do share!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2010-07-08T02:00:00.002-05:00

You find yourself riding this:

While wearing this:

Courtesy of M.O.T.B

If you have a "You know you're a 'boy mom' when..." to share, please choose submit at the top of the page and send it on over! You could be featured!!

Here Ye, Here Ye

2010-07-07T02:00:00.007-05:00

The Trumpette has sounded and with it comes style!! You probably have seen Trumpette's socks before. If not, here is a sample of the Trumpette style sock for little ones:

The Buddy received a box of them when he was tiny and I loved them. They looked great with his outfits when we went out, but I didn't have to fuss with shoes :o)

While visiting Market in Dallas with my mother (who owns a store) I stumbled into the Trumpette showroom and was excited about their new line. I think you will be too! These make really great gifts because they mostly come packaged with several pairs together. Trumpette also isn't only for baby boys, they have things for the older dudes too :o)

My favorite picks

Unplugged (Stars) six pairs of bright star multi-print pattern socks in a gift box

$26.50

Skater Johnny's: six pair of bright low-top checkered shoe socks in a gift box

$26.00

Baby Mocs: one pair of patent mocs ina gift box. Comes in white, orange, red, fuchsia, light pink, lavendar, light blue, chartreuse, or black)

$18.50

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Time to Party Tuesday: Oh Boy!

2010-07-06T02:00:00.005-05:00

There have been lots of new moms having boys in my circle of friends lately and I wanted to show you a couple of baby showers. I love how these showers have so much personality!

The first is a sip n see (shower held once baby has arrived) for sweet little Hudson, given by his aunt. They held it at a restaurant and served a fajita bar along with a homemade cupcake stand to feature some fabulous cupcakes.

Homemade Cupcake base (super easy! made of foam board and wrapping paper!)

Always a great idea to use decorations as double duty for both the nursery and the shower :o)

Delicious cupcakes from Dimples

Perfect addition to centerpiece flowers

Proud new 'Boy Mom' and her little Buddy

New mom and hostess sister

The next Shower was created by me :o) for a close friend, coworker and soon to be 'boy Mom'! This little buddy's nursery has a rocket theme; therefore we titled the shower Countdown to Kylin. HERE is his bedding that the colors were pulled from (black/white/green).

Cupcake: Sams Club (really yummy and super cheap!)

Cupcake toppers made with sucker stick, 2 inch punch, 3 inch punch and rocket punch found on clearance!

Plastic wear and napkins found at Dollar Tree, napkin rings made with circle punch and rocket punch

Cups from Dollar Tree, circles printed on sticker paper and cut with circle punch :o)

A countdown wouldn't be complete without a celebratory chocolate cigar! We also served milky way candy bars...get it? :o)

I hope that these two boy baby showers give you some inspiration! So you have a boy party that you think other boy moms would appreciate seeing? If so, Click Submit at the top of the page and send it to us!!

"Hide your wound, Not your style!"

2010-07-05T02:00:00.002-05:00

As a boy mom, I am definitely familiar with the bandage aisle at the store. The poor buddy has had several ouchies recently! My options are usually tan or characters...boring! Not anymore! I came across the Ouchies bandage online and like what they have created! It is a parent team that saw a nitch in the market for cool bandages for all ages. My personal favorites are the Make Ur Own bandages, and the Trucktown bandages from Ouchies Jr.

The Tin comes with 20 bandages in 5 different colors: blue, pink, purple, green and yellow and 3 markers: red, blue and purple. Something for everyone in the family!

$5.00/tin

5 designs based on the Trucktown Book with 4 of each design in tin of 20 bandages. $5/Tin

Click HERE to see retailers in your area

click HERE to join Ouchies Facebook (sometimes have coupon codes!)

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Zoodles WINNER!!

2010-07-03T00:30:00.001-05:00

Our Zoodles giveaway has come to an end and unfortunately we didn't need to use random.org to choose as AMY was the clear winner. Congratulations, AMY! I know that your little dude will enjoy Zoodles and you will enjoy the benefits of a Premium Membership! Thank you for entering and email me at your earliest convenience.

A light in the Night

2010-07-02T02:00:00.006-05:00

** Reminder: The Zoodles Giveaway ends TONIGHT at Midnight**

From the makers of Elf on a Shelf, we now have A Light in the Night! Created by a 'Boy Mom' to comfort her oldest son when he moved to his "big boy bed," the gift set includes an adorable light-up creature and beautifully illustrated board book. Just one soft press of the tummy emits a bright glow which proves once and for all there is nothing going bump in the night.

The A Light in the Night gift set includes:
-1 nighttime guardian that lights up
-1 children's board book
-Batteries included
-Online access: Register your A Light in the Night online and receive an official "Certificate of Bravery"

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Kaboom! FREE Printables

2010-06-30T23:33:00.000-05:00

I ♥ the fourth of July holiday! I love the extra day off from work, the gooood food, and the family time!! I plan to make a yummy dessert for the backyard party we have been invited to and can't decide between these:

Fuit Kabobs: alternate between strawberries, bananas, and blueberries (feel free to use raspberries instead of strawberries) SOURCE

chocolate dipped pretzels: melt semi sweet chocolate chips with a bit of oil in the microwave. Stir every 30 seconds until it is liquid. Use a spatula to cover end of pretzel stick, then sprinkle to your hearts desire :o) SOURCE

So....is it obvious that I am not the cooking kind?? I love it when it looks great and is super easy! That is also why I LOVE a FREE printable!!

Check out these awesome red, white and blue paper goodies and send me pics of how you use them this weekend!! I would love to feature you :o)

Oh Snap Favor Topper:

[one] fill a snack size ziploc bag with three bags of snaps.

[two] trim a black sheet of cardstock to 4.5" x 7", then fold in half so that it measures 2.25" x 7".

[three] staple that onto the top of your filled ziploc bag.

[four] cut out your 2" x 6" topper and attach to the front of your black cardstock

Download By right clicking image above

Food Tent Cards:

Simply cut out the food tent cards and write your food name in the star with white or silver pen, and fold in half. Download HERE

Cupcake Toppers:

ut them into strips, and then use a 2″ circle hole punch to cut them out, and attach them to white lollipop sticks with hot glue or tape!

Download HERE

Sparkler Tags!

I hope you all have a safe and festive 4th and that these printables make you the talk of the backyard BBQ! Take pics of what you make with these and send them to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com!

My little Sandbox

2010-06-29T23:16:00.001-05:00

** Reminder: Zoodles Giveaway ends Friday, July 2nd at midnight**

Most boys I know love their sandbox! The only problems are when the weather is bad out or keeping spiders from getting in, etc. A company called Be Good Company has a line of My little Sandbox play sets that fix all that!! I love that they are small in size and offer a diverse line of scenes. Check these out:

Space Patrol includes 10"X10"X2" wooden sandbox, 10"X20" no mess play mat, ultra fine sand, 2 astronauts, crater, moon rover, digging shovel, grooming rake, bucket, 2 asteroids, and moon rocks!

Circus Time includes: 10"X10"X2" sandbox, 20"X20" no mess play mat, ultra fine sand, elephant, white tiger, swinging monkey, tight rope cat, clown, ringmaster, ball, elephant stand, circus stage with ring, rake, shovel, and sand pail!

Big Builder includes: 10"X10"X2" wooden sandbox, 10"X20" no mess play mat, ultra fine sand, 2 die cast construction vehicles, mini boulders, bag of gravel, sefety cones, digging shovel, construction cres and builder blocks!

They also carry a very fun Executive Sandbox line for that 'Boy Dad' you know and love!

The Tee Time includes 5.25"X5.25" sandbox, ultra fine sand, putter, 1 flag, putting green, 1 mini golf ball, 1 grooming rake, and 1 bunker stone!

Beach Break includes 5.25"X5.25" sandbox, ultra fine sand, 1 beach chair, 1 digging shovel, 1 sand pail, 1 grooming rake, 1 sun umbrella and seas shells!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

Time to Party Tuesday: Construction Party

2010-06-29T02:00:00.004-05:00

** Reminder: Zoodles Giveaway ends Friday, July 2nd at Midnight!**

Jessica of Juicy Bits is a fellow boy mom of a cute little buddy who loves Bob the Builder. With the often difficult task of taking a commercial character (that your little on is obsessed with) and making it a great party, Jessica did a fabulous job! Check out the details HERE:

Entry to party

Perfect party table using solid color party supplies, a fabulous fabric made table runner, nuts & bolts, and dump trucks filled with snacks!

Kid's table area

Super fun sand digging boxes

A VERY popular visitor came with his back hoe

Cool Favors!

Do you have a boy party to share with us? We would love to see it!! Please email it to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

ZOODLES Review and GIVEAWAY!

2010-06-28T02:00:00.003-05:00

Does your buddy love to work on the computer, but you don't feel comfortable just letting him have at it? That is how I have felt about my buddy and the computer. He is totally intrigued with it, but he is only 22 months old and I don't want to start bad habits of too much nonsense computer use and then there is the whole unsafe internet problem!!

BUT If I knew that he could be using a browser that not only blocks him from the big bad internet, but is also educational, fun, AND creates a report so I can see what he has been working on (how cool is THAT!) then I say...sign me up!

That is precisely what Zoodles has done. They have scoured the internet (so I don't have to) in order to bring us a FREE browser, especially for kids, that makes it simple for them to find lots of fun activities – all by themselves!

Here is how it works: You child (for ages 2-8) can launch the program from the icon on your desktop. Your Buddy will then enter a full-screen mode of Zoodles that will keep them from exiting out and finding inappropriate content or accidentally deleting your important files (all totally ad free). Zoodles is even smart enough to adapt to the age and ability of each child so they don’t get frustrated? The Buddy doesn't need to know how to read or type to get around. In fact, their kid-friendly interface has stripped out confusing Back buttons and URL bars so the browsing experience is as easy and appealing for kids as possible.

It took only a matter of minutes to download the browser and The buddy and I were off and running! I was surprised that it kept his interest for almost 20 minutes. His "playground" offered over 12 different features to play with. When he gets a little older I wouldn't have any problems leaving him to play on his own. My FAVORITE part was going to the Parental Dashboard and getting a report on what he was working on!! I can even choose what subject I want to be most represented in his playground.

Some other highlights worth mentioning:
Ad blocking/Violence Filtering Browser
Zoodles Play Timer
Parent Play along Mode
Forums

Soooo Who is ready for a FREE 3 Month PREMIUM Membership?? Zoodles is kind enough to offer this S.W.A.G to one of P to P's lucky readers! Here is how you can win!

#1 Become a follower of Pedicures to Puddles - 1 entry

(comment below in order to activate your entry)

#2 Become a facebook fan of BOTH Pedicures to Puddles and Zoodles - 2 entries

(comment below in order to activate this option)

#3 Tweet/Facebook about the giveaway - 3 entries

(comment below with link to your tweet/post)

#4 Download the Zoodles browser - 4 entries

(coment below in order to activate this entry)

If you fully participate you could have 10 chances to win this goodie!

Notes: Giveway will end on Friday, July 2nd at Midnight (central time). Winner will be selected with random.org and will be announced Saturday morning. They will have until Monday morning at 10am to claim their goodie. If winner does not come forward in time, a new winner will be selected.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck!!

Frecklebox

2010-06-25T02:00:00.003-05:00

This is Frecklebox' awesome new educational product that is perfect for teaching your buddy the critical sight words that he will see most in Kindergarten. The personalized activity pad includes 20 words. Each word is featured on an oversized activity page AND a flash card.

What I like most about these are that they come from Frecklebox (I'm a fan), they are personalized, and you can preview everything you create before you buy! This company is worth checking out for great personalized gifts and party favors.

Check out THIS video for a mom's take on the product

PLUS: Use coupon code SUMMERFUN for 15% off until 6/30!!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2010-06-24T02:00:00.000-05:00

...you hear the toilet flush, followed by "Uh-Oh"...then know it is too late!

PS. HERE are detailed instructions on how to unclog a toy from your toilet. I figure we could all keep this information handy :o)

3D

2010-06-23T02:00:00.001-05:00

3D is all the rage right now. It is everywhere from movies, toys and now even home televisions! (which is actually on my hubby's christmas list already...ha) Some of the items, however, seem to actually work better than others. This is my new favorite!

Crayola's 3D Sidewalk Chalk!! Have you seen this yet? I came across it while in line to pay at Michael's. They had a sample drawn up on a small chalk board and a pair of the glasses set out. I was amazed! It was really cool to see the pictures leap off the board like that. I mean, I fully understand that is what 3D does, but wouldn't it be fun to turn ~~your~~ the buddy's art into 3D!?

It is washable and would be a great addition to your outdoor parties this summer :o)

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Time to Party Tuesday: The 'ole Ballgame

2010-06-22T02:00:00.003-05:00

I like the simplicity of the baseball theme for a boy's birthday party, but love the way this one was done. M.O.T.B has several posts from last week covering her son's 3rd bday party, so go check it out for all the details!

Homemade cake! How impressive is that!?

Pin the ball on the bat game. There was a field created in the backyard with an activity at each base.

Perfect idea of having all the guests sign a ball for the bday boy!

Party Favors

PLUS here are some FREE Printables so you can plan your own Baseball Party!

Party Circles HERE
Birthday Banner HERE

Do you have a boy party to share with us? We would love to see it!! Please email it to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Doing the Mash

2010-06-21T02:00:00.004-05:00

Organic Mashups are a mish mash of pure fruit fun!

These are a huge hit in our house! I love them because #1 they taste awesome, #2 they are resealable!!, and #3 they are good for you. The Buddy's older cousins love them too. I bet they would be great for a snack when you're out and about for the day. You could freeze them ahead of time so they are nice and cold when you're ready to have one. Be careful though, they are so popular and get sucked down so fast we have to hide them or they disappear quickly!!

Toys R Us is having a special on these: Buy 3 and get the 4th FREE!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Happy Daddy Day!

2010-06-20T12:13:00.000-05:00

We are having a great day celebrating our Dad's and I hope that you are too! I would love to see pics of what you gave your hubbys out there. Here is what The Buddy gave Mr. Nelson:

Our favorite Photographer, Travis of Fragile Works Gallery, took these secret pictures while Mr. Nelson was working late one night last week. We bought wooden letters and headed to the park. The Buddy added his touch to the mat around the first picture. Mr. Nelson loved it! I love that you could do this with any name and it was so inexpensive!!

SO...What did your hubby receive??

Fragile Works Gallery Facebook and Website

FREE Daddy Day Printables!!

2010-06-18T02:00:00.008-05:00

I love Printables (someone else's awesome graphic work that you can print)! Especially when it is FREE!! Father's Day is THIS Sunday, June 20th. No matter what you have decided to get for your hubby or dad, maybe you too can incorporate one of these! (click link below picture to download)

Free Printable: Rosette

Free Printable: Gift Tags

Free Printable: Bottle Neck Tie

Gift Boxes

These great printables were found at Executive Homemaker and Paper Crave! Executive Homemaker believes in sharing great printables and so do I! You could do so many things with these! So....what did you get your hubby or dad this Father's Day??

You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2010-06-17T02:00:00.006-05:00

...the most popular spectator event at your house is daddy mowing the lawn...

I Hope he is still this excited about it when he is 14 and it's his turn..hehe...

Do you have a "You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when..." to share? We would love to hear it because I am sure we can ALL relate! Please send to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Knee Bouncers

2010-06-16T02:00:00.011-05:00

The Buddy is totally intrigued with the computer and always wants to mash the buttons when we are working...{er or facebooking}. So I thought the Knee Bouncers website would be a hit and BOY was it!

There are several games that help teach colors, numbers and letters by simply pushing any button!

They even have an app for it...now I just need a dang iphone. Try it out and see if your buddy loves it too.

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

The S.W.A.G Program

2010-06-15T15:04:00.001-05:00

I am excited to announce a new addition to Pedicures to Puddles!

I have had a few companies interested in sharing their goodies with our 'Boy Moms', so I have created this program in order to bring their fabulous goodies to the people that would appreciate it the most...You!

Our Giveaway last month went well and I hope to keep those coming! With that said, if you have a great product or service and are interested in becoming a S.W.A.G member, please feel free to read more about the program HERE!

PS...Check out our new button on the right side of the page!!----------}}}} Pink Designz did a fabulous job, again!!

Time to Party Tuesday: Party like a Rockstar!

2010-06-15T02:00:00.001-05:00

I am always on the look out for great boy parties and came across this one a couple of months ago. The theme is fun and the ideas are unique! This is one that everybody can get into.

Perfect centerpieces put together with Dollar store votives, clearanced M&Ms, wrapping paper and clipart! Just another reminder that perfect party supplies don't have to be expensive :o)

Remember to continue your theme in every part of your party like this clever drink sign.

Favor bags are another great place to continue your theme. Aren't these clever??

Go visit fellow 'Boy Mom', Laurie to see more! I am anxious to see her future parties!

Do you have a boy party to share with us? We would love to see it!! Please email it to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

"To Infinity...

2010-06-13T23:21:00.002-05:00

I don't know about you, but we are hearing this phrase a lot in our house lately. The buddy is loving Toy Story and we are contemplating it being his first movie in theaters. If you have been out and about in the last couple of weeks, then you have seen the uproar of Toy Story gear! It is EVERYWHERE!

We have a standard at our house (as silly as it might sound) but we don't dress the buddy in characters. It just isn't my style. He can have it on his jammies and undies...things like that, but you won't see him in a Buzz Lightyear t-shirt. With that said, I have seen some cool gear out there. Check it out:

THIS is a 2 in 1 rocket/table and chairs set from Toys R Us $79.99.

I love that it stores in a space saving way! Can't go wrong with that. Plus if your buddy has a space themed room, this could be a cool addition.

I am not sure if you have gone to purchase a Buzz or Woody action figure lately, but they are pricey!! We found this perfect set for The Buddy ($9.99). It is actually sold as diving sticks for the pool, but they are soft and durable. He loves them!

HERE is another option for a good sized Buzz for a fraction of the price ($7.99 at Toys R US)! It is Buzz Lightyear Bubble Bath and the helmet opens and closes! (you unscrew his head to get to bubble solution)

Lastly, I am totally intrigued by this find. We came across this 3D Water slide at Toys R Us today. It comes with a pair of 3D goggles that are supposed to make the characters jump at you while you are zooming past on the water slide! How fun does that sound!?!?

PLUS: This week get a free Toy Story 3 Movie Ticket with any Toy Story purchase of $25 or more at Toys R Us. Purchase must be made in store. Movie will be released this Friday, June 18th!!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Puddle Jumpers

2010-06-11T02:00:00.002-05:00

If you haven't seen a puddle jumper yet, I am excited to be the one to introduce it to you! My little buddy hasn't had a swimming lesson yet (I know shame, shame), but loves the water. I have been looking for a flotation device that would allow him to feel confident in the water but still safe...Voila! Puddle Jumper!

The patent pending design allows free range of motion and great stability while in the water. They have great faces on the front that your buddy will love too. I have seen them online anywhere from $15.00 to $34.00. I found The Buddy's last weekend at Tom Thumb...$12.00 with my TT card! A local swim teacher says that these are so great she expects them to be sold out once the word gets out, so run out and get yours now before they are gone!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

"You know you're a 'boy mom' when...

2010-06-10T02:00:00.003-05:00

...you find yourself accompanying your son outside to watch the trashmen work...

Submitted by fellow 'boy mom' Mandy (M.O.T.B)
http://amomandtwoboys.blogspot.com/

PS..This reminds me of when my nephew told his mom that he wanted to be a trash man when he grew up because they only work on Tuesdays...{grin}

Do you have a "You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when..." to share? We would love to hear it because I am sure we can ALL relate! Please send to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

My First Shades

2010-06-09T02:00:00.005-05:00

Sunglasses for babies, toddlers, and kids should do two things:

** Provide 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays

** Be comfortable, attractive, and durable so they keep them on

This summer I am sure that your diaper bag is stocked with sunscreen for you little buddy, but have you considered protecting his eyes?? These kids sunglasses are Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) compliant, CE Certified and FDA Approved for protecting children’s eyes against dangerous exposure to UV-A and UV-B rays. They are lead-free and made of impact-resistant, shatterproof polycarbonate frames and lenses. There are a ton of styles and colors available, including sports styles. Some of these styles can even be fitted with prescription lenses!

My Buddy loves his Gymboree sunglasses, but won't leave them on. These stay in place with a stretchy neoprene band; which is great seeing how shades don't provide much protection if he keeps taking them off. I am anxious to try these!

Plus!! I Found a coupon code: Enter the code "coolbaby" for a 10% discount on My First Shades through July 31st

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Time to Party Tuesday: Retro Surf

2010-06-08T02:00:00.001-05:00

I am eating up all the fab summer boy party themes lately. I am especially swooning over this Retro Surf Party from I love Parties!

The best part about the details are that you can buy most of them in the I Love Parties Shop!

Favor cookies and shark cupcakes

Jello orange slices and coconut bowling....soooo cute!!!

I have started seeing these GIANT balloons everywhere and I must have them! So far I have found them here. Do you know of anywhere else to find them??

The Aussies really know what they are doing!

Do you have a boy party to share with us? We would love to see it!! Please email it to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Super Fly

2010-06-07T02:00:00.001-05:00

Does your buddy have the best imagination? Are you always looking for boy appropriate dress up clothes? Are you planning a Super Hero party soon? If so...You need Super Fly Kidz! Check out these Awesome customizable Super Hero Capes on this Etsy store!!

Lightening Bolt Kids Cape

$12

Custom Super Hero Kids Cape

$16

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Happy Blankie!

2010-06-04T02:00:00.000-05:00

Most mommys have a little one with a lovey, a favorite stuffed animal, and in some cases both. Boy mom, Emily, encouraged her then 7yr old son's creative idea of joining his little sister's love of her blankie and stuffed animal; thus creating Happy Blankie!

Happy Blankie's are made of the most luxurious plush "minky" fabric and the silkiest charmeuse satin.You can even personalize them to make the perfect gift! Thread color is available in 13 shades.

My FAVORITE part of the Happy Blankie philosophy is their One to Love, One to Give program! Happy Blankie is donating blankies to children in need all over the world. YOU will be able to make a difference by choosing where you would like to give a blankie. When you receive your blankie you will be able to follow the instructions on the "giving is cool" tag in order to donate your second blanket.

Happy Blankie is changing the world, two blankies at a time, and we think that is Awesome!

(wouldn't this be perfect for the tiny Baylor Bear fans out there??)

Pedicures to Puddles thinks Boy-Mom, Emily and her little man, David totally Rock!! Run, don't walk to check them out! You can even enter your email address to win a FREE Blankie!!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion!

My 2 Cents

2010-06-03T02:00:00.001-05:00

Teaching your little man the value of a dollar is one of the most important things you will teach him. Here are some fun ways to start that process!

Munch Money

This is my favorite for the little guys! Who wouldn't want to feed the Munch Money!! These are found at the Munch Money Etsy shop HERE.

Personalized Piggy Banks

This Etsy Shop has the coolest personalized piggy banks for the littlest guys. They would also make a good gift for the boy mom to be!

Money Savvy Pig

I love this idea for the bigger guys! The Money Savvy Pig forces your buddy to decide how to split his money among the four choices of Save, Spend, Donate or Invest. I wish I would have been made to make decisions like this when I was a kid...I would be so much better with my money now! They say to follow the rule of 10/10/10/70...10% in savings, 10% in donation, 10% in an investment and 70% on regular spending. What a great lesson!

Do you have a great way of teaching your little buddy about the value of a dollar?? Share it with us at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when...

2010-06-02T02:00:00.004-05:00

...your first photo shoot with your new bundle of joy captures this picture!

New 'Boy Mom' Katie's little buddy, K

Do you have a "You know you're a 'Boy Mom' when..." to share? We would love to hear it because I am sure we can ALL relate! Please send to pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Time to Party Tuesday: Splash!

2010-06-01T02:00:00.002-05:00

Fellow 'Boy Mom' and friend, Kristy, planned a Splash themed party for her 2 yr old in the HOT Texas heat last August. My Buddy's birthday is in August too and I love this idea. What kid doesn't like splashing in the water!?

Cute Invite!!

Clever favor idea of beach towels embroidered with each child's name

Additional favors were personalized beach buckets full of beach goodies

Kristy was smart enough to rent a tent to shade all of the splash pools and water toys

My favorite part! This cake is a perfect duplicate of the invite and su-uper cute!

Made by Patsy's in WEST, TX to match the invitation

I love that Kristy went with a theme that all 2 year olds love and it looks like everyone had a great time. What is great about this theme too; is it would work great for an end of school party or playgroup party. You could hit up all your mommy friends to gather several different water tables and blow up pools and host your very own Splash party! The other great lesson from Kristy's party is to always be on the lookout for places to rent or even borrow the things that you need. I am sure the rental of the big tent was a fraction of the cost to buy one and lots of churches may even have one to borrow. My motto is, "You never know until you ask"!

Did you host or attend a great boy party?? If you would like it to be featured on Time to Party Tuesday, please contact me at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Teacher Thank You Gifts

2010-05-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

Did your buddy have the best teacher this year?? Do you wish he could have a teacher like her every year!? If so, then make sure you tell her how much she meant to your buddy by giving her a thank you gift on the last day of school. I realize for some of you this may be a little late and I apologize for that. Just file it away for next year!

Water Bottle Tag

This is a simple idea that any teacher would appreciate. You can find the tutorial HERE.

Gift of Relaxation

A simple beach towel, magazine, and sunscreen

Idea found HERE. She even created a version for her son's bus driver with a sports illustrated and sweat proof sunscreen. This one is too easy not to do.

Clipboard

There are TONS of ways to decorate a clipboard and I bet your teacher doesn't have a cute one like this! You can find the tutorial HERE.

Summer Friends

HERE is an easy tutorial on a brilliant idea! A great way for your buddy to keep in touch with his friends over the summer. It was made with a simple school clipart and printed wallet size so many print to a page. Have your little guy hand them out on the last day of school!

And The Winner Is...

2010-05-29T02:00:00.002-05:00

I was very careful in making sure that every blog follower, facebook fan, and party submitted, etc was accounted for when completing random.org! Without further ado...our winner is

ROSIE

Rosie said...

"Okay, I just added this to my facebook, now I've gotta go add it to my blog!"

Congrats, Girl! Please email me at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com by 10AM on Monday, May 31st with your size and address where you would like for your CU-UTE new T to be sent!!

Thank you, everyone for your kind words and entries! I have enjoyed hearing from you and hope to have another giveaway in the near future. And as always...if you have a great find or party to share, we would love to hear it!!

Putting Fun in Functional

2010-05-28T02:00:00.010-05:00

** Reminder: Get-A-Goodie ends at Midnight Central Time Tonight!!**

The Boon Company have some really creative products, especially the Animal Bag. I think this product is brilliant! The idea is that you stuff the sack with all your soft, plush and stuffed animals; which then creates a perfect bean bag of sorts!

$59.99

See....brilliant! Now if your buddy has near as many stuffed animals as mine does, this is definitely a need.

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for...Popsicles!

2010-05-27T02:00:00.006-05:00

** Reminder: Get-A-Goodie ends at 12AM Central Time Friday, May 28**

Homemade Popsicles are a great way to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend! They are super easy and loved by all. Try one of these recipes and you are sure to be a popular mommy!

Fudgesicle

1 4 oz. pkg. instant chocolate pudding

2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup canned evaporated milk

Combine the pudding and 2 cups milk. Beat for 2 minutes. Stir in sugar and canned milk. Pour in to popsicle molds. Freeze.

Cookies 'N Cream Frozen Popsicles

1 cup Cool Whip
12 Oreo Cookies - crushed
1/2 cup milk
1 4-serving pack of Vanilla Instant Pudding

Mix the above ingredients together and pour into your mold set to make popsicles. Freeze for 4-5 hours before serving.

Polar Popsicles

4 cups strawberries
1/3 cup Tropical Punch flavored sugar-sweetened soft drink mix

Rinse strawberries and remove stems. Place strawberries and flavored soft-drink mix into a blender container, cover and blend on low speed for 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth. Pour mixture into your popsicle molds and insert the sticks and freeze for 3 hours.

You can find lots of molds out there. This is my favorite!

Norpro Ice Pop Popsicle Maker $13

Makes 10, 3-ounce treats; includes 24 wooden sticks

Summer Lovin

2010-05-26T02:00:00.002-05:00

** Reminder: Get-A-Goodie ends at 12AM Central Time Friday, May 28**

Summer is upon us and we have been finding ourselves playing outside most evenings. Now we just need to add some cool stuff to make it awesome! One of my favorite "go to" places is One Step Ahead for neat finds. Here is our wish list for summer goodies!

Outdoor BBQ grill $249.95

Dripstick 2 pack $7.95

And my personal favorite (wonder what the weight limit is:o)

The Extreme Coaster $259.95

What is on your list for cool summer stuff?? Share it with us at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Time to Party Tuesday: The Mouse!

2010-05-25T02:00:00.003-05:00

** Reminder: Get-A-Goodie ends at 12AM Central Time Friday, May 28**

Fellow boy mom and good friend, Adriane just threw the cutest Mickey party for D's 2nd birthday! Check out this cake!

She was going for a color scheme of Red, Yellow, and blue with splashes of Black.

Perfect popcorn boxes made by mom herself!

Mickey shaped bowls

The hand is actually a soap dish!!

Uhh-dorable chocolate dipped rice crispy treat favors

I love Adriane's creativity and the reminder to always be on the lookout for party supplies...even if it takes you to the bathroom aisle :o) You can find more pics here.

Did you host or attend a great boy party?? If you would like it to be featured on Time to Party Tuesday, please contact me at pedicurestopuddles@yahoo.com.

Get-A-Goodie!!

2010-05-23T19:59:00.001-05:00

Welcome to From Pedicures to Puddles first ever giveaway
or Get-A-Goodie as I am calling it!! SO....what is up for grabs??

Why a Boy Moms Rock Tshirt, of course!!

So, How do you enter the get-a-goodie??

Earn ONE entry:

* Become a follower (add comment even if you are already a follower)

*Add From Pedicures to Puddles to your blog roll (and comment here with the link to your blog)

* Become a Fan/Like From Pedicures to Puddles on Facebook (and comment here)

Earn TWO entries:

* Tweet about this giveaway (add comment here)

*Update your facebook status with a link to this giveaway (add link to your facebook post in the comments section)

*Blog about this giveaway (add comment with link)

Earn THREE entries:

*Submit a great find to be featured

* Submit a boy's party to be featured (with a link to pictures)

If you fully participate you could have 15 chances to win this goodie!

Notes: Get-a-goodie will end on Friday, May 28th at 12AM central time. Winner will be selected with random.org and will be announced Saturday morning. They will have until Monday morning at 10am to claim their goodie. If winner does not come forward in time, a new winner will be selected.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck!!

Business in the front...

2010-05-21T02:00:00.002-05:00

I am loving these Tie front Tshirts at We Choose Joy! I like the colors and patterns available. The price is great too!

$15 for T-shirts and $30 for tshirt/beanie sets. I think this is going to be my next go to baby shower gift!!

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion

Night Vision

2010-05-20T02:00:00.000-05:00

What male in your life wouldn't love to have the ability of night vision!?

Your honey and little buddy will both love the Eyeclopse. With it you can see up to 50' feet clearly in the dark. How cool is that!!? It is never to early to start your Christmas shopping...

This post is not sponsored and 100% my opinion