JumpStart and Preschool are 2 names that definitely go hand in hand.  JumpStart has been around for such a long time and I have always enjoyed using their products with my children.  Their new 3D and online versions are so adaptable for various family needs.

I got to try out their PreK 2 cd set and we love it.  Teaching preschoolers all the basic concepts in a very visually appealing way is one of the things I love about JumpStart.  The kids love it as well, giving them access to a world that they control and characters that are very fun.

The first CD is for Preschoolers and they will enjoy 12 activities to help them get ready for school.  On CD 2, Kindergarten children will enjoy the 35 activities created just for them.  One of the most fun activities is creating their avatar and setting up their house.  The kids love these activities, but well, I guess in the end it’s hard to pick any one thing they loved more!

With this 2-CD set, kids can:

• Design an unique avatar and decorate a house
• Choose from over 15 pets to adopt and nurture: groom, feed and buy accessories for the pet to wear
• Complete missions to unlock storybooks
• Rack up gems and then trade them in for pets, accessories or other great prizes to decorate the world
• Get creative by adding personal photos and artwork

Their new JumpStart Online program is another great option.  Even parents have great tools at their fingertips!  This is a monthly membership program that offers similar features to the cd, but even more depth.  Three to ten year olds have tons of educational (yet very fun) resources available every time they login.

With a wonderful 3D landscape, the online world offers so many features.  Be sure to hop over to the site and check it out.  The parents section really is amazing as well, totally worth checking out when you can.

The great thing is that they have offered one of you a 3 month membership to their online world!  To enter, be sure to visit the website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me why you would like to win this.

There are some great extra entry opportunities as well of course, feel free to take advantage of all of the entries for as many chances to win as possible.…Just be sure to leave a NEW comment with each entry…:

• Become a Facebook Fan of A Frog In My Soup!!!
• Tweet It: Just tweet this giveaway with a link to this post and make sure your comment has your twitter handle in it.
• Blog It: Write a post about this giveaway (with a link to this post of course) on your own blog, make sure your comment has a link to your post.
• Stumble It, Kirtsy It, Digg It, Submit to Mommy Blips: Submit this giveaway to any of these sites and earn an extra entry for each one…and make sure your comment has your Username.

It is void where prohibited, be sure to read my giveaway policies here.  Be sure to enter by November 12, 2009.  This giveaway is open to US addresses only.

Disclosure: I always give honest and forthright reviews and will not present something that poses a conflict of interest &/or that I do not like.  I received a copy of the More Beautiful You CD in order to listen to it and present the review.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

My boys love to create beautiful masterpieces of art and with the website http://www.littlebirdtales.com we now have a fun way to share their artwork and even tell others a little bit about it.  The littlebirdtales.com is so easy to use!  Step ONE just scan and upload your child’s artwork to the site.  Step TWO edit the art by adding text, drawing digital art and/or adding a voice or voices.  Step THREE watch and share the slideshow you and your child just made.   Not only is the site a great way to encourage your children’s imagination it is also a great way to go GREEN.   By using the service in this way, parents can teach children to be creative without using precious natural resources and can also practice what they preach by becoming more eco-conscious in how they share their family memories.

Caleb and Brayden worked together drawing 6 pages about three brothers (conveniently named Caleb, Brayden and Andrew…lol!) that went into a haunted house on Trick R Treat night.  After I had each page scanned and uploaded Brayden and I set down and told a little bit about each page and told the story.  When we were done we all enjoyed watching our Little Bird Tales creation.  I love that you can add your child’s voice.  What a great way to capture a moment in time.

Right now until October 31^st littlebirdtales.com is offering a 20% discount code and a contest to win $250…

Parents can sign up for a free 90-day trial account to get started instantly or can subscribe to Little Bird Tales for one year and 100 MB of storage space for only $24.95 a year. To celebrate the launch of the site, Little Bird Tales is hosting an online contest where kids can submit an ending for their tale “How Little Bird Got His Name” that includes a name suggestion for “Little Bird,” a picture, text and audio. One lucky winner will be selected to win $250 cash, $250 donated to the environmental charity of their choice and a free 3-year membership to the site.

For more information on Little Bird Tales and how to enter the “Name the Little Bird” contest, please visit: http://www.littlebirdtales.com.

Disclosure: I received a subscription to this program to try out for myself and present this review.  Please feel free to read our full disclosure policy here.

In our digital society, most families have multiple cell phones.  One for dad, another for mom and even one for a few of the kids.  It is not only a way to communicate, but highly recommended for safety reasons.  But we all know that we aren’t supposed to be talking on the phone when we drive unless we are using something to keep us hands free.

As a parent, this is especially important when you see the accident statistics involving distracted drivers, especially those who are trying to talk on the phone, make a call, etc. without using a hands free device.  In fact, many cities and states have made it illegal to do so and we are definitely among them.  When I was asked to try out the Blackberry Visor Mount Speakerphone, my initial concern was that I have an iPhone…are they compatible?  The answer is definitely YES!

This Blackberry speakerphone is compatible with all Bluetooth enabled phones, so you don’t have to have a Blackberry to use it for yourself.  I have to say that I truly am impressed with this little device!

Here’s a few more details:

The BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone is the latest in innovative BlackBerry technology. It wirelessly streams calls from any Bluetooth enabled phone through your car’s stereo system. This slim, ultra light product attaches to your car visor and is very easy to set up – just turn it on and press a button to pair it with your cell phone. You’ll then be able to answer calls with one touch and receive verbal caller IDs. The Visor Mount Speakerphone also keeps you and the kids entertained by streaming music from your BlackBerry over the car stereo.

Here’s what I loved…

• Setup is a snap – make sure you read the instructions on connecting, charging, answering, using it to voice dial (for voice dialing enabled phones), etc.  The instruction “book” is super short and quick.
• Very easy to use – the instructions are simple and once you are setup, you just tap the speakerphone to answer calls…then tap again to hang up, no need to take your eyes off the road.
• Conveniently mounted on the visor above my head and easy to reach.
• Battery life is GREAT!

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading through the little instruction booklet before you use this device.  Once you have, you’re good to go.  For instance, the battery doesn’t really show you a full looking battery when it is charged.  It simply goes from red to green.  I didn’t know this and drove around for three days with the cord attached (which isn’t super convenient) LOL.

I’m really enjoying our Blackberry Visor Mount Speakerphone and I’m very excited to be able to offer one of these (retail value $99.99) to a lucky commenter. Entering is simple, just visit the website and when you’re done looking around, come back here and leave a comment telling me why you’d like to win this speakerphone.!

There are some great extra entry opportunities as well of course, feel free to take advantage of all of the entries for as many chances to win as possible. …Just be sure to leave a NEW comment with each entry…(hint, when you are looking at this as an individual post, below you will see some little icons, to easily submit this post to a variety of sites):

• Become a Facebook Fan of A Frog In My Soup!!!
• Tweet It: Just tweet this giveaway with a link to this post and make sure your comment has your twitter handle in it.
• Blog It: Write a post about this giveaway (with a link to this post of course) on your own blog, make sure your comment has a link to your post.
• Stumble It, Kirtsy It, Digg It, Submit to Mommy Blips: Submit this giveaway to any of these sites and earn an extra entry for each one…and make sure your comment has your Username.
• Fave at Technorati!  Just fave this post or A Frog In My Soup at Technorati.

It is void where prohibited, be sure to read my giveaway policies here.  Be sure to enter by October 20th, 2009.  This giveaway is open to US addresses only.

Disclosure:  I always give honest and forthright reviews and will not present something that poses a conflict of interest &/or that I do not like.  I received the Blackberry Visor Mount Speakerphone in order to use it myself to present the review.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

There is a very fun online world for children called Pocketville.  Sign up is quick and easy…and safe.  This is another one of those websites that is truly geared for younger children and specifically asks that they NOT choose their real name as their username.

Use this code: B9GX8NUDYS to get 250 Pocketville tokens!  Expires Sept. 30th (hurry hurry hurry).  Today everybody wins!

The first time you visit you’ll be taken on a tour of Pocketville…first stop, create your Avatar.  The first great think I want to mention about this site is that it totally walks you through each step then it tells you how to get back to that area anytime.  Oh, and in case you’re wondering, this site is perfect for girls OR boys!  Just keep clicking the arrows through the hairstyles to get to a boy style…there’s even boy accessories like hats and more.

Once you’ve created your avatar, it’s time to adopt your first Pocketville pet!  Please ignore the prices on the pets your first time through!  I got very hung up on that thinking that I wouldn’t be able to adopt a pet, but your first pet is free.

Once you’ve adopted a pet there are so many fun things to do and explore in Pocketville!  Grab your kids and start having fun today.  Hurry though, this code expires on Sept. 30th!

I was just introduced to a brand new online game and it’s a lot of fun!  I’m warning you though, Faunasphere tends to be a bit addictive.  The beauty of it is that it is played entirely online within your browser, you don’t have to download anything.  It is also entirely free and in it’s Beta phase (so there may be a few glitches).

This game is highly entertaining as you fight pollution, build your very own Faunasphere (think: mini planet – and let me tell you some of them are AMAZING!) and complete many different goals along the way.  Exploring and working your way through all the different worlds is fascinating and you tend to meet a lot of other Fauna along the way.  No real information seems to be shared as you gather friends that you can visit as you play.

This game is a lot of fun for mom (if you happen to like to play computer games during your “down” time) and would also be a lot of fun for your computer safety savvy children!   I actually really like the getting rid of pollution element and it’s fun keeping track of all the different goals you have been given to achieve.

I mentioned earlier that initially I was a little nervous…well, it’s about the whole “social” aspect of it.  I’m used to my iPhone games where I don’t interact with others while playing.  In this game though, there are constantly other players crossing your path, saying “hi” and doing their own thing throughout the game, but in the same place you are.  It makes for some pretty interesting play and totally keeps you on your toes since you have to get to the item you want before another player does…while still maintaining social politeness and correctness (to a point LOL).

Join me in checking it out…you can always sign up to be a Faunasphere beta tester, but I’ve been told that after you submit your application it takes a while for them to process it and get back to you with your invitation.  Leave a comment here though and in one week I will choose 5 of you to get in right away!

Due to the nature of this giveaway, there are no additional entries, and everyone can get in…you just get in quicker through me .

Can you keep a secret?  My 16th Wedding Anniversary is coming up on July 17th and I’m planning on taking my hubby to The Cheesecake Factory.  I’ve been wanting to go for a long time and think that it makes the perfect place to have a date, celebrate an event…or even a very fun double date with some friends!  In this case though it will just be us and I couldn’t be more excited.

My friends and family have been raving to me about The Cheesecake Factory for years, but I have just never had the opportunity to go.  There are a few nearby so it’s really just a matter of getting a sitter and going.

If you have been to The Cheesecake Factory, you know how fun it can be and right now you can “Share Your Celebration” and be entered to win one of several AMAZING prizes…

• Trip for 4 to Florida – Airfare, Hotel, Disney Resort Passes and $1,000
• Chance to instantly win a $25 gift card, $500 in gift cards.
• Cheesecake for ONE YEAR!!

All you have to do is grab a photo of you celebrating at The Cheesecake Factory (if you don’t have one, it’s a great excuse to visit and create a celebration).  Put together a story mentioning the role The Cheesecake Factory played in your celebration and submit it to be entered to win those great prizes.

Since I tend to be the one to plan our anniversary I thought it would be fun to do something different this year so when I was asked to share this great contest with you, I thought it was a great opportunity to hear from my readers about their experiences with The Cheesecake Factory.

Share your best story to enter to win one of the prizes of course, but if there’s a dish you love there and think we should try when we go next month, I’d love to hear about it!

*Go HERE for my full disclosure policy statement.

Changing the future of even one child may sound like a huge and daunting task…yet we, as parents, do this every single day by providing our children with love, support and by meeting their basic needs.  As challenging as that may seem at times, most of us just do what we know needs to be done to raise our children as positively as possible.

There are hundreds of thousands of children in Foster Care across the US. These children are just like your kids…all they want is love, a stable home and their basic needs to be met.  Something we do not hesitate to give our children, but something that these children don’t have consistently.

Have you ever considered foster care? Or better yet becoming a permanent and adoptive family for some of these children in need?  There are so many children and sibling groups that are available for adoption and need a family who will take them as their own.  Yes, fostering and adopting can definitely come with it’s own set of challenges, but the reward is VERY well worth the effort and frustrations!

If I sound like I know what I’m talking about…I do!  My dream of adopting children began as a teenager and while I was researching it, a little flicker went off in the minds of my parents.  This flicker grew into a flame that proceeded throughout the licensing process that involved the entire family.  The result…my brothers.

Unless you are told, or knew our family before or during the process, you would never guess that my brothers were adopted!  My little brothers are now 16 and 18 and are amazing young men!  They were lucky, we got the older of my brothers when he was almost a year old, and my youngest brother came home right after he was born.

If it is even a remote possibility for you and your family to consider fostering and adoption, please visit Adopt-Us-Kids for more information on how to get started in the process of changing a child’s life forever!  Also, May is Foster Care Awareness Month, hop on over to that website as well for even more information.

Be prepared though because you…like me…may end up with tears streaming down your face as you read about these amazing little children who simply need a family!  They are no different than your children, but they don’t have a mom and dad!

One thing is for sure … there may be many things in life that all of us regret, but not one of us will ever regret the time and effort of loving a child and giving them a future! If nothing else, I beseech all of you to please pray for these little ones; that their lives will be blessed, that they will find a home quickly and that they will prosper into amazing adults!

I know that many of you will think I’m absolutely insane because I already have 6 children, but I’m being very honest when I say that if I even remotely had the room (sorry 1050 square feet simply won’t cut it), I would not hesitate to seriously pursue becoming a permanent family for one of these precious little ones (honestly, even for a sibling group)!

Have you ever thought about it?

We eat a lot of spaghetti around here.  Pasta in general is pretty standard fare, but all the boys love spaghetti!   So, we’ve tried a lot of sauces and Ragu is definitely one of my favorites!

You see, for many years I made my own sauce, but sometimes it’s just one too many things to do, so I always keep jars of spaghetti sauce on hand.  We’ve tried many different brands and I really do prefer Ragu, so when Mom Central asked if we’d be willing to try out their two latest flavors – Sweet Tomato Basil and Margherita – we were thrilled.  My kids LOVE reviewing food LOL!

These two flavors do not disappoint.  Rich in flavor and very tasty.  Make sure you check out Ragu’s website for some really great recipes and ideas using these sauces!  Your family will love it!

I don’t often have an opportunity to review food, but this was definitely fun!  Keeping my 13 year old from eating all of them was definitely a challenge, but in a good way.

Patricia “Sister” Shubert has always loved to cook and the idea of starting her company began at her church’s 3rd Frozen Food Fair where her rolls were so popular she couldn’t take all the orders people wanted to place.  Her business began in her home…or more precisely on her sun porch!  After a year, she setup a commercial bakery and the rest is history.

You can buy her great products on her website and at various stores through the US.

Although you can purchase Sister Shubert’s delicious products through the site, you can also get some really great recipes.  Be sure to check out the Ham and Artichoke Bruchetta for a very yummy Easter dish!

I adore the fact that all her products are fresh and there are NEVER any additives or preservatives.  In a world filled with them, I like this much healthier option!  Never fear though, when you order her products are shipped quickly and in special packaging to ensure that they arrive totally fresh!

They are holding a couple of amazing contests at their site and I really encourage you to check them out…

• The first is called “On a Roll”, where you can win four top-of-the-line Frigidaire appliances for submitting the best recipe incorporating SS rolls.
• The other is for submitting your best “Quality Time” story you share with your family. That prize is a gift basket with goodies, valued at $45.

Sister Shubert’s is also very generously offering a gift basket (valued at $45) for my readers!!! Their custom hand-painted basket comes complete with two pans of rolls and your choice of one of the following: Sister Schubert’s own Cranberry Nut Bread; Fly-Off-the-Plate Pancake Mix with Blackberry Patch Syrup; or Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake Mix with Blackberry Patch Fruit Butter. This basket also includes Mook’s Cheese Straws, 2 packs of Red Diamond Estate coffee and a hand-decorated, seasonal cookie.

To enter, please visit their website and take a look around!  Once you are done, come back here and share a favorite (or traditional) Easter dish with us (just the name is fine, you don’t have to leave the whole recipe).  Remember, there are always many ways to get extra entries, just go to THIS PAGE to read my giveaways policies and how to get those extra entries!

This giveaway will end April 9th, is open to US addresses and is void where prohibited!

I LOVE giving my nieces (yup, even the one on the way) pretty girly things.  Many of you may not know that I am a total girly girl despite my position as the mom of 6 boys (or maybe because of it LOL).  So, when I have an opportunity to review products that they will love, I jump on it!

Recently Jenniffer Powell, owner of Born 2 Impress, introduced her shop to me and sent me some lovely products for my nieces to review!  Jenniffer started making bows shortly after she found out she was pregnant.  Everyone loved them and encouraged her to sell them…it didn’t take long for her to open her shop online.

Born 2 Impress is committed to hand-crafting unique designs with the highest quality materials and the utmost care, for any occasion, in a timely manner so that anyone can make their little one feel and look like a princess.

I love her vision statement:

To show our appreciation for kids and childhood.
To let kids be kids and look like kids.
To let parents have a sense of pride and security.
To create awareness that every kid was Born 2 Impress.

There are so many beautiful products to choose from, you simply HAVE to check it out for yourself!

Their Bubblegum Woven Headband was the hands down choice for my 9 year old niece.  It impressed my sister particularly because girls my niece’s age still want unique, fun and pretty things for their hair, but don’t always want them to be big and bold.  This headband was perfect for her!

The Lavendar Crochet Headband is so sweet and pretty.  It is perfect for those fun dressy days for even the littlest of babies.  I love these headbands, they are so cute and fun!

The Pink and Brown Dots Braided Headband is one that we were amazed by.  The craftmanship used to create this great headband is not easily duplicated.  My sister is the queen of frugal and crafty.  Often she’ll receive something and think “oh, what a great idea, I know how to make that”, but I can absolutely assure you that with this headband that is NOT the case!  She looked at me and said that it was amazing and something she would definitely buy from Born 2 Impress.

My readers can even get 10% off their purchases (expires June 4 2009), just go shopping at www.Born2Impress.com.

I’m also thrilled to let you know that Jenniffer has offered a $20 gift certificate for one very lucky commenter to go shopping at Born 2 Impress.  To enter, be sure to visit Born 2 Impress and take a look around.  When you’re done, come back here and leave a comment telling me what your favorite product is.

This is open for shipping to US addresses only and will end on March 18th.  Want extra entries?

• Twitter this contest – come back here and leave a comment with a link
• Blog this contest – come back here and leave a comment with a link
• Submit to a social networking site listed below (kirtsy, mommyblips, etc) – leave a comment letting me know what you did.