Tickler Tags Product Review and Giveaway

I am excited to be able to share this product with you. As moms we wear so many hats from secretary, to cook, scheduler, doctor, taxi driver, and just being a busy mom, that sometimes we forget the littlest thing, REMINDERS. I have to say in my busy morning hustle and bustle, I always remember to pack the lunch, get the teeth brushed, back pack ready and all the other odds and ends that are needed to make the school day run smoothly, as I check my schedule for the day I itemize the priority list and check and recheck my calender so I can make sure I make the most out of the time in the day. The one thing I almost always forget to do is remind B what his schedule holds for the day. There are so many activities, achievements, high fives, hugs, appointments, and details that as moms we just want to be there for, but unfortunately we cant do everything. Nicole over at tickler tags has developed such a unique wonderful product that I can not rave about it enough.

Before you ask WHAT ARE TICKLER TAGS? here is a little history

Tickler Tags are a fun and easy to use reminder system that clips onto your child's backpack. They were designed by Nicole Budleskia mom herself that found it difficult and a bit more stressful to manage her daughters weekly schedule than she had anticipated. She found herself struggling to keep up with her daughters busy schedule and keeping track who was going to pick her up from school while trying to stay organized amidst the chaos.Thus, began Tickler Tags a fun innovative way to clip a Carabiner and multiple tags onto your child's back pack so they know what activities they have after school, or who is picking them up form school, to A simple word of encouragement .


What are Tickler Tags and How Do They Work?
Tickler Tags are interchangeable backpack reminder tags that parents attach to their child’s backpack each morning to remind them of the day’s after school activity and transportation arrangements. Tickler Tags are also used to communicate words of encouragement, positive feedback or to remind your little one of a task they might otherwise forget.
· Kids love them because they understand the day’s plan
· Parents love them because there’s no more confusion
· Teachers love them because they know the “official” after school arrangements

Tickler Tags are Designed to accommodate readers and non-readers alike, the simple and iconic images used within the design of these cards proved to be a local hit.




Tickler Tags are such an innovative and wonderful product, my 4 year old was so excited to pick out his own color Carabiner and we sat down together and chose our top favorite activities, means of transportation. He can read a little but the pictures are so unique to the task at hand, we received the Dad and Mom transportation cards and My son loved that the Daddy and Mommy card had different pictures which makes it easier for him to learn who is coming to get him that day. The Card are made of a durable plastic similar to a credit card, they are very durable and kid friendly. Each card has its one unique picture as well as a brief description for those children that can read, they were very easy to clip onto the carabiner and interchange for the days tasks. My son loved knowing what his daily schedule was without having to ask his friends were so excited and wanted there very own set.


Giveaway

Nicole has agreed to offer 1 lucky winner a choice of 5 standard tags (NO CUSTOM TAGS) and 1 Carabiner of your choice. Chose from a variety of Activities, Transporation Options, or a"Tickle Tag" for that little boost of encouragement. Tickler Tags were a great help in saving this mom and her children from the busy chaos of our lives. Thank you again Nicole for such a great product.

How to enter Giveaway

Mandatory Entry: Go over to TicklerTags, browse around leave a comment telling me which 5 Tickler Tags (standard only, no custom) and color of carabiner you will pick if you win

(Please Choose carefully, if you win, this is what you will receive). Please remember to include your email address in your comment as this is how you will be contacted if you win.

NOTE: If you skip the mandatory entry, none of your entries will count for this giveaway.

Extra Entries: (leave separate comments for each entry)

• Follow Me (1 entry)
• Follow Me on Twitter Sew_n_time (1 Entry)
• Become a TicklerTags Facebook fan (1 entry)
• Tweet about this giveaway (please put status link in your comment)(1 entry)
• Follow TickerTags on Twitter @ticklertags (2 entries)
• Grab my button and add it to your blog - (see sidebar) (3 entries)
• Post about this Giveaway on your own blog – 5 entries (leave a link to your post)

Open To US Residents Only

Giveaway closes April 11th@ 11:59pm (EST) Winner will be picked April 12th by Random.org and notified by email, a post will follow. Winner has 72 hours to reply to my email otherwise a new winner will be picked. Thank you for entering my giveaway Happy Blogging.
Disclaimer: Tickler Tags sent me a pack of tags for my use prior to reviewing them. No other compensation was received.

Follow Me Fridays

We are also heading over to Tara's Trendy Treehouse to Catch up for a few, if you have a minute why don't you stop on by.

Here's how it works...
Add your blog link to the McLinky below ~ remember to leave your blog name under "Your Name"
Follow Trendy Treehouse ~ we will follow you back!!!
Grab the "Follow Me Fridays" button for your blog ~ so more blogs can share in the fun!
Follow other blogs that have linked up ~ Comment there letting them know you are now following them and visiting from Follow Me Fridays!
If someone follows you, follow them back, It's only fair. LOL
The more you follow, the more will follow you!
It's that easy!

Friday Follow Celebration

A fellow blogging buddy of mine follows the celebration over at One 2 try, so this week we are going to tag along for the celebration. We have skipped on over to One 2 try and are linking up to their Friday Follow Celebration.

This weeks sponsor is:

Welcome to a SPECIAL edition of Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:-

-Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops. -
-Grab the Friday Follow and Sponsor buttons and include both on your Friday Follow blog post.--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. -
-Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like. -
-Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow. -
-Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Come with me and join Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at home mom for Cooking Thursday, formerly Slow Cooking Thursdays

This week I had a ROAST and didn't know what to do with it, I searched and searched and came across this recipe that seemed to catch my eye and my stomach, I know that many of us buy different type of meats if your anything like you always seem to be at the grocery store when your hungry which is normally why I over shop for stuff. My hubby doesn't normally care to much for Roast but I was determined to get his seal of approval on this recipe. The best of both of his worlds, coffee and meat, OKAY I know before the name scares you away look at the yummy photo I posted. It was so easy to make it took me 10 minutes to prep and in the slow cooker it went.

Slow -Cooked Coffee Beef Roast

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

I have to make sure that I post that this recipe works best with DAY OLD COFFEE we all know that most of us forget to drain that coffee pot from the day before now instead of wasting it we can put it to good use.

1 boneless beef sirlion tip roast (2-1/2 pounds), cut in half

2 teaspoons canola oil

1-1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1/3 cup sliced green onions

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 cups brewed coffee (day old works best)

1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke, Optional

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup cold water

In a large nonstick skillet, brown roast on all sides in oil over medium-high heat. Place in a 5-qt slow cooker

In the same skillet, saute mushrooms, onions and garlic until tender;stir in coffee, Liquid Smoke if desired, salt, chili powder, and pepper. Pour over roast.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until meat is tender. Remove roast and keep warm. Pour cooking juices into a 2-cup measuring cup;skim fat

In a saucepan combine cornstarch and water until smooth, Gradually stir in 2 cups cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over sliced beef

YIELD: 6 Servings

Nutritional Facts

3 Ounces cooked beef with 1/3 cup gravy equals

209 calories

7 g fat (2 g saturated fat)

82 mg cholesterol

244 mg sodium

6 g carbohydrate

28 g protein

Recipe courtsey of taste of home

I just wanted to drop a quick line to my followers I havent dropped off the face of the earth but have been a little busy in the studio gearing up for the

GRAND RE-OPENING OF CUDDLEFLYCREATIONS.COM

We are truely excited about this step of getting the website back up and going. The GRAND RE-OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1,2010.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION

I will post pictures today of some of the new projects we have been working on.

Happy Blogging

Giveaway

Dee over at Two of a kind, working on a full house is hosting a fantastic giveaway. She has partnered with Leap frog and they are giving away a copy of Math Adventure To The Moon.





As a mom I am always looking for fun innovative toys that not only my kids can have fun playing with but that also teaches them. I am very big on the educational aspect that a toy has to offer our children. I am a huge fan of all of leap frogs toys we have a house filled with many of there products already, so far they include

The text and learn, my 4 yr old loves this

The Tag,

I don't know what we did before we had this in our house I think its a must have for anyone with a preschooler

Learn & Groove Table

Learn & Groove drum


We originally purchased this for my 4 yr old when he was a baby and have since passed it on to my 2yr old



Fridge Alphabet

My daughter has a speech delay and this helps her with her sounds it has been a wonderful addition to our home.


WE love the Fridge farm

and what fridge can have a farm and alphabet without some beats so you know our house had to have the Fridge DJ also.

I cant Say enough about how wonderful Leap Frog toys are. if you want to enter in your chance to win your very own copy of Math adventures to the moon. Click on over to Dee's blog at

and enter for your chance to win your very own copy.

New Found Love of Toys

I spend Nap Time normally taking a little mommy time which usually means I'm glued to the computer or in my studio sewing away. Today I ran across a website that caught my eye, Wooden Toddler Toys being the inquisitive mommy I am I jumped at a chance to browse around without any children pulling at my pant leg. WOW is all I have to say, we are always looking for a great HOT spot to find Imaginative toys and I now have found a new love of toys. There selection is amazing, before I could finish browsing I heard a little person scream my name so needless to say not only was mommy researching the new site but B was right there by my side. He has decided that the Easter Bunny is going to bring him the Glow in the Dark Space Train Station Set by KidKraft

I guess the Easter bunny has a bulldozer he rides around on because I'm not sure B will be getting this from the EB, but we will have to see. The set is amazing, B has the biggest imagination I know and the thought of getting this huge space station for his trains to go to outer space on made him the happiest little boy on earth. Kids will say the darnedest things and I spent the rest of the day hearing that B and his trains were going to take the space shuttle to the stars and see the aliens and eat lunch and talk about all there toys.

I am blown away that a picture of a toy that he had never seen sparked his imagination to think of things I didn't even know he had in his vocabulary, we talked about the stars and planets, to meteors and aliens. It warms my heart to think the little things in life are so special to him. I guess mommy and the EB are going to have to find a JOB to help finance his new wish list.

We were later joined by C who loves anything and everything GIRL, with her speech delay she can only say a handful of words but it warmed my heart to hear her get so excited over the kitchens, dress up and then she screamed MOMMA MOMMA when she saw the ultimate of ultimate bedroom sets. I think we are going to have to invest in the future on this toddler room. The toddler bed is fit for a queen in our case our fairy princess, it is pink with the crown and the pedestals so I could add a canopy to boot, the matching vanity, bookcase and nightstand pull the room together to make it any divas princess retreat. I look forward to seeing the new products that wooden toddler toys.com has to offer and know they will get my business, so click on over and check them out.

Valentine Pig Candy Jars

This week on Tip me Tueday i wanted to feature the cutest project that B and I did for his teachers. B loves do draw or do anything crafty so he wanted to do something special for his teachers this year for valentines day and being the crafty mommy I am I wanted to make something. It wasnt hard to find a 4 year old something to craft on give them scissors, glue and some paper and there off and running, but being the perfectionist I am it had to be cute and unique. I came across a picture of the cutiest Valentines Day Craft at Michaels and new that PIGS were in our future. They turned out so cute and B and C both had a blast helping. Even fireman helped out which is amazing because he really isnt in to the whole craft seen . Here is the list of items that you need to make a

Valentines Pig Candy Jar

(this project can be modified )

Materials We Used

Feel free to get shapes already cut out

Scissors

Glue for ceramics and foam

1 pink foam sheet

1 White foam sheet

1 red foam sheet

1 pen

4 in terracotta pot

3.5 in saucer (optional) instead of foam hearts on bottom

pink acrylic paint

black sharpie

1 pink chenille pipe cleaner

hot glue gun (for mommies only)

First, cut cut out all the shapes we drew ours out on paper first then cut them out.

Second paint the pots pink inside and out, let dry over night.

Cut out 1 pink circle to glue in bottom inside of pot to seal up the hole so the candy doesnt leak out.

First start by gluing the heart shapes to the base of the pot this is a total of 4 hearts to make the feet, then glue on eye lids to eyes then draw in the pupils, second glue nose then the hearts for the mouth. We used a sharpie bold to draw the mouth and the circles for the nose, but could also use stickers.

take a pencil and wrap the pipe cleaner around until it becomes curley then hot glue the pipe cleaner to the back of the pot this will be the tail for the piggy.

Last add your favorite candy for your valentine or your favortie teacher. This was such a great craft for my 4 year old he enjoyed spending quality time with mommy but easy enough that my 2 year old was able to help. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Well I know that it is a late post, WOW Can you believe that February has already come and gone and March is already upon us. I think as a MOM time goes into Hyper drive because you never seem to know where the day goes, you wake up at 7 am and BAM its 10pm before you know it and the to do list you had just isnt close to being done. I think I need to invent a machine that stops time like the move CLICK if we all had our own little remote to Pause time O how I would get my list done.

One of the blogs that I follow Skip to my Lou has a MADE BY YOU MONDAYS post every week to show off something that was made that day, I am hoping making Mondays the day I can come up with something NEW and creative every week, it might make the creative juices flow and allow my week to start off great... Hmmm its just a thought, Mondays are never any fun because its normally the day that some of us return to work, some go back to school, some just start the week off as a Taxi driving, Schedule planning, Chef in the making, Organizer extraordinaire MOM. Its amazing how when Monday approaches the many hats that as Mom's we have to pull out of the closet but I'm determined that MONDAYS are going to be my most creative day.... Stop, Sit Down, Take a deep breathe and just let those creative juices flow.

This week on Made by you Monday I am showing off this cute little apron that I made Bug for Valentines Day she loved it, I wanted something that she could wear on Valentines Day but something she could also use after that, She loves to help bake as you can see by the photos so I figured why not make a cute little apron, and cute little Pony O's from Pickle Pie Designs Embroidery Exclusive for SWAK Embroidery