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Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Institutes For The Achievement Of Human Potential


Educating and teaching our children to be all that they can be is every parents hope and dream. If you have a child with learning difficulties or a brain injury, it's hard to know where to find help and resources. The Institutes For The Achievement Of Human Potential is a great resource for all parents who want to help and teach their children to succeed to the fullest of their potential.

The Institutes For The Achievement Of Human Potential is a group of non-profit Institutes founded in 1955 by Glenn Doman. The Institutes is internationally known for its pioneering work in child brain development and for its programs to help brain-injured children achieve wellness. Historically, brain-injured children have been considered hopeless. Thousands of parents have come to the Institutes to learn how to treat their children at home. Those parents have proven beyond any doubt that brain-injured children are not hopeless, but instead have tremendous potential. The Institutes exists to insure that all brain-injured children have a fighting chance to be well.

The Institutes For The Achievement Of Human Potential can help you start your child on the road to success with so many courses and books to help you along the way. You can actually teach your baby to read! Children can learn anything and through the course, How to Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence, you'll be provided with the essential information you need to create an enriched home environment for your children. Through this course you can learn reading, encyclopedic knowledge, math, physical ability and nutrition, music and foreign language.

I, from my own experience with Haley, firmly believe that we as parents are the best teachers our children could ever have. I started teaching Haley simple things like shapes, colors, etc. at the age of 1 1/2 and I was reading to her already when she was only 3 months old. Today she is an outstanding student with a large vocabulary and learning comes easy to her. She was reading years before we ever did as kids. The proof here is that if you give it them, they will learn it.

The Gentle Revolution Press creates, publishes and distributes the highest-quality materials and books of The Institutes For The Achievement Of Human Potential. The book that started it all was How To Teach Your Baby To Read. When it first appeared it not only created quite a sensation but it helped to unleash the creativity of parents. Other books and materials that are available include How Smart Is Your Baby, Your Smart Baby Newborn Programs, Asics Infant Crawling Track, Teach Your Baby To Read, Books for beginning readers, Teach Your Baby Math, Bit of intelligence card sets, Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence, What To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child and the list goes on.

If you'd like to learn more about early childhood development and the great resources available please visit http://iahp.org for more information.

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas and GIVEAWAY

Valentine's Day is coming in the next few weeks and I'm ready to celebrate and share some love! I have compiled a list of unique and fun gift ideas for all your Valentines PLUS....I've put together a great prize pack full of goodies just for you! This giveaway ends soon so don't miss out!





I love Sock Grams! What's a sock gram? Well, it's a pair of socks and a personalized card that you can send to anyone! They have hundreds of styles to choose from, they last longer than flowers or chocolates and they are so much fun to send and receive! They also come with a packet of organic foot balm tucked inside the socks. I absolutely love the foot balm! It's perfect for this time of the year! Please visit www.sockgrams.com for more information!
















Kidz Bop just released Kidz Bop 15, including some of the greatest songs of today that kids love! Haley loves all of the Kidz Bop CD's. They make a perfect gift for kids! Another fun thing is that kids can now download a sing-a-long version of "Let It Rock" and create their own karaoke video at www.kidzbop.com. Their website offers videos, music, games and contests for kids too! Kidz Bop CD's are available for purchase at major retailers. Please visit http://kidzbop.com/ to check out all the fun activities for kids!










Make your purchases count with Greenheart! Greenheart is Chicago's premier eco-fair trade non-profit store, carrying both fair trade and eco friendly products. They offer unique and contemporary products that you can feel good about buying.

Greenheart adheres to seven principles commonly accepted by the fair trade community that outline the central facets of fair trade:
Producers receive fair wages for their goods and labor, working conditions are safe, producers and wholesalers develop long-lasting relationships, producers have access to credit and technical assistance, environmentally friendly practices are encouraged, equal employment opportunities for all, and practices are completely transparent, accountable and democratic.

All American Mommy has been very impressed and pleased with the quality and craftsmanship of Greenheart products and I also love what they stand for! Greenheart offers something for everyone and they can help you design a lovely gift basket to fit your budget. Please visit http://greenheartshop.org/ for more information!











is a wonderful green alternative to traditional wrapping paper that ends up in a landfill! Check out the beautiful Skip the wrapping paper and try something multi-functional, unique and luxurious! BOBO is an eco-friendly accessory that can be used as a gift wrap, bag, wine carrier and so much more! BOBOdesigns of BOBO by visiting http://bobowrap.com/!













Ignite your senses and treat yourself or a loved one to Om Aroma's decadent Pearls and Diamonds Collection! This new duo set combines the award-winning moisturizer Creme Luxe with Elixir de Perle, a daily cleanser inspired by and containing powdered mother-of-pearls. Creme Luxe is an anti-aging face cream that contains white truffle extract, also known as the white diamond. An anti-aging breakthrough from Om Aroma, this cream has a powerful anti-aging cocktail of seven vitamins, minerals, peptides and omega fatty acids - all of which deliver results without harmful ingredients. Pure decadence! Please visit www.omaroma.com for more information on all products from Om Aroma!








Spoil the canine companion who owns your heart with a special treat from K9 Confections! Their Valentine's Day collection includes Love Paws, Woofwiches, Love Bones and Candy Hearts. These premium, all natural and organic dog treats are wheat, corn and soy free, salt and sugar free, omega rich, contain no preservatives and they're baked fresh. Check it out at http://k9confections.com/!








Giveaway: This Valentine's Day Prize Pack includes:
  • one pair of Sock Gram socks
  • lovely jewelry pieces from Greenheart
  • PC game and board game for kids
  • books for you ladies to enjoy
  • pair of sterling silver earrings and sterling silver ring (brand new from me to you)!!
Post a comment telling me how you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day. Extra entries can be made by helping me spread the word about this giveaway that ends soon. (1) blog about this giveaway or (2) tweet it. Please be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you. Ends 2/11/2009.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Health News: Free Pelvic Fitness DVD

As a mom, I know how childbirth can weaken bladder muscles and control. Haley will gladly tell you that I couldn’t jump on the trampoline with her for a while or I’d wet my pants. She thought that was funny. Actually, I could barely sneeze without wetting my pants. It was so embarrassing! Well, I talked to my doc about it and she sent me to physical therapy. Yes, physical therapy for bladder weakness. It worked!!! Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles is the key. Now you can get this FREE DVD to try at home! Psst….it helps tighten your tummy too!

Exercise expert Kari Bo, together with TENA (formerly known as Serenity) launched a free pelvic health program, called Core Wellness. The program was created in light of the fact that one in four women suffers from bladder weakness (very common after childbirth).

Kari, together with TENA, has designed the PELVICORE Technique, a gentle 20-minute at-home routine that is proven to both prevent and, in 60-70% of women, cure bladder weakness. The exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles (which are responsible for bladder control) and also improve posture and tummy tone.

Visit www.corewellnessprogram.us to learn more about pelvic health and receive a free copy of the PELVICORE DVD.

Following are some tips from TENA (www.tena.us) for achieving optimal pelvic health:

Don’t Sweat It: More than 70% of mild bladder incontinence can be improved through simple muscle exercises that contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles. These exercises require minimal effort and can be done anywhere- in the office, on the subway or while at home watching TV – no gym clothes required.

Maintain a Normal Weight: Carrying excess weight increases the likelihood of weak pelvic floor muscles and can also worsen bladder weakness.

Let Someone Else Do the Heavy Lifting: Lifting heavy objects incorrectly can weaken your pelvic floor. Lift heavy objects safely by bending your knees and using your leg muscles.

The Pelvic Health Diet: Certain foods, such a tomato based and spicy foods, can irritate the bladder. Caffeine and alcoholic beverages also contribute to leakage, so stick to bladder-friendly liquids such as water, apple juice, grape juice and cranberry juice.

Don’t Let Bladder Weakness Hold You Back: Bladder weakness affects one out of four women. You are not alone in this condition and it doesn’t have to control your life. Pelvic floor exercises can greatly improve your pelvic health, but if you’re still hesitant to stray too far from a bathroom, consider a discreet liner or pad to help give you confidence through the day. Visit www.tena.us for more tips and to check out all your options.

Didi and Ditto Preschool - Mother Nature's Visit


Didi and Ditto software series is a great tool for preschoolers! It's fun and educational all at the same time! Kutoka Interactive, producer of the award-winning Mia edutainment software series, has just released Mother Nature's Visit (third title in the Didi and Ditto series)! This new release is targeted for kids ages two to four and will catch and keep their attention with exciting activities related to pre-reading, pre-math, science, music and art.

In this adventure of the bother/sister twins Didi and Ditto, you'll find two zany beavers preparing a reception for Mother Nature's visit to their hometown called Smart Valley, a special, wacky world where spiral trees and funny characters abound. Zolt, a sneaky purple wolf, is trying to ruin the party by breaking all the musical instruments and hiding all the food. He then plans to step in and be the hero when Mother Nature arrives. Didi and Ditto notice that Zolt is acting strange and decide to keep an eye on him. It is up to the player to decide which beaver will watch Zolt very carefully while the other one helps Hootdini get ready for the festivities.

In the game, your child will work on recognizing letter and numbers, counting, classifying, identifying shapes and sounds, as well as developing observation skills, understanding oral instructions and more. These skills are seamlessly incorporated into the game play as the player helps Didi and Ditto. There are sixteen entertaining activities and lots of funny animations.

Each title in the Didi and Ditto series is designed to strengthen and reinforce what children will be learning at school and covers multiple subjects. Who knew learning could be so much fun?

Didi and Ditto Preschool - Mother Nature's Visit is a DVD compatible with Windows and Mac PC. With a suggested retail of $19.99, this software can be purchased at major retailers or at www.kutoka.com.

Please visit www.kutoka.com for more information.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Sucrets ICE is help for sore throats

For over 75 years doctors and moms have come to trust the Sucrets brand. Now they've created a new product that's perfect for sore throats and kids love them! Adults love them too!

Sucrets ICE is the coolest way to tell sore throats to chill. This cooling ice pop provides immediate relief from even the harshest sore throat. Sucrets ICE are ready after just one hour in the freezer and are available in grape and pomegranate flavors. They contain zinc and echinacea as an added boost to help fight colds.

Check out the new new Sucrets ICE and other products from the Sucrets family at www.sucrets.com.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Free Pilates Videos From Home!













Check out this affordable workout option! Former Radio City Rockettes and twins Katherine and Kimberly Corp have created
ultimatepilatesworkouts.com!

Virtually a pilates studio on demand, ultimatepilatesworkouts.com features a full line of FREE pilates workout videos for every fitness level. There is also an option to "create your own". Get all the benefits of studio instruction anytime and anywhere with your iPod, laptop, PC or stream it directly to your TV! With numerous FREE full-length pilates workout downloads available, there is no excuse not to look and feel amazing.
Check it out at www.ultimatepilatesworkout.com!

"Green" Giveaway from ecostore USA!

One of my biggest resolutions for 2009 was to live more "green". I firmly believe that this is something we must all do for the health of ourselves, our children and our future. I've been experimenting with different brands and finally found products that I absolutely love from ecostore USA! The best part is that they cost about the same, and sometimes less, than what you'd find at the supermarket.

ecostore products contain “No Nasty Chemicals™”!
With over 100 products to choose from, all of them are good for you and good for the planet. AND they actually work! Our family has fallen deeply in love with the lemongrass bar soap, vanilla shampoo and conditioner, laundry liquid (move over expensive bottle of Tide!), and my utmost fave is the pure oxygen whitener! The pure oxygen whitener is the best bleach alternative that I've ever found and it won't harm your skin or the environment like bleach will. Your clothes will be noticeably brighter!

ecostore USA is your one-stop shop for baby care, body care, household cleaners, hair products and they even offer products for pets! You'll receive your order neatly packaged and on your doorstep within days of placing it. Truly wonderful!

ecostore USA knows that it can be expensive to buy natural or organic products, but they've found a way around this by safely super-concentrating every formula. This means that a little goes a long, long way. The result is saving money by significantly cutting down on the cost per use. Each container lasts much longer than you'd expect it to!

ecostore USA gets our seal of approval with the All American Mommy award! We are super impressed with the products and just as excited to share them with all of you! Please visit www.ecostoreusa.com for more information!

Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive a bottle of Laundry Liquid and a container of Pure Oxygen Whitener. To enter - post a comment telling me what you think of ecostore USA. Please be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you. Ends 2/23/09.

Stride Rite Early Walkers

All American Mommy top pick kids shoes: Stride Rite Early Walkers are just what every little walker needs to get their feet ready to run, jump and skip! Natural Motion System Technology provides comfort and support that little feet need plus maximum flexibility to mimic the foot's natural movement. Stride Rite has been designing and engineering footwear specifically to meet the needs of growing feet for over 85 years and they know their stuff!

With the 3-point testing system, Stride Rite shoes have proven quality. These shoes are tough enough to stand up to the rumble-tumble ways of kids are put through rigorous testing.
Fit - 5 stages of fit testing on kids to ensure a perfect fit.
Wear - between 30 and 45 day kid testing to make sure these shoes wear better than you'd ever expect.
Lab - rigorous lab testing ensures each material and component meets Stride Rite standards. 30 to 40 tests per shoe to be exact.
Wow, that's a lot of testing that goes into each and every shoe!

Stride Rite shoes offer style, function and quality with the hundreds of adorable styles they have to offer. They are perfect for baby, boys and girls and they even have socks, boots, slippers - everything you need for those cute little feet! Please visit http://striderite.com/ for more information and to check out all the great styles for spring and summer!

New Bob The Builder Movie

From Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment, Bob The Builder: Race To The Finish is being released throughout the nation from January to March 2009. Race To The Finish is a must-see for your little one!

Everyone knows that the fun is in getting it done! Now in this full-length movie available exclusively on DVD, Bob the Builder, along with his business partner Wendy, introduce two new machines - Gripper and Grabber - to the Can-Do Crew. Together the entire team unites to build a sports stadium in record time and win the gold for a job well done. Can they fix it? YES THEY CAN!!!

The Sunflower Valley Games have been announced and the community needs a new sports stadium. Guess who's the right construction team for the job? It's Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew! Bob and the machines welcome two new members. Gripper, a crane, and Grabber, an excavator. While ATV Scrambler sets out to train the Valley's athletes for the event, Bob and the Crew get to work to complete the job on time. Along the way, Gripper and Grabber try to acclimate to small town life and soon discover that despite being a winning twosome that always has fun together they can also have fun with others. Race to the finish line with Bob and his friends and see how teamwork and fun go hand-in-hand in this colossal building adventure.

Bob the Builder: Race to the Finish 60 minute DVD movie is perfect for kids 2-5. Please visit www.bobthebuilder.com for more information.

Lips for Xbox 360 Rocks!

Xbox has released yet another one of my favorite video games! This game has been great fun for our entire family and all of our guests that have come over to play it! As a matter of fact, one of Haley's friends used her Christmas money to buy Lips for herself because she loved it so much! Lips rocks!

Lips is the new singing game exclusive to Xbox developed by iNiS. Offering 40 songs spanning multiple genres and decades, featuring artists like Beyonce, Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Lupe Fiasco and Rascal Flatts, and including two wireless motion-sensitive microphones, Lips provides the ultimate party.

The mics - each copy of Lips comes packages with two wireless motion-sensitive microphones. not only will these superior-quality pieces be used to help your voice shine, but their motion-sensitivity will also give you the opportunity to steal the spotlight by performing dozens of motion specific gestures and poses that will amp up your score and the fun.

The music - each song in Lips was chosen by gaming and music industry veterans, based not only on the popularity of each track, but also on the "game-ability" of each. With multiple solo, competitive and cooperative game modes available in Lips, these 40 songs were hand picked to be experienced in many ways. You can also bring music from your collection to the party, as Lips allows you to plug in your Zune, iPod or other compatible music device and play your DRM-free songs in the game as well.

The party - Lips is the perfect party accessory and the perfect party soundtrack. Not only can you create playlists and continuously play your music through the Lips Jukebox and at any time just shake a mic to start singing, but you can also play Party Games with your music. Face off with friends and family in "Vocal Fighters" or work cooperatively in "Kiss" and "Time Bomb". Lips brings the experience off your TV screen and into your living room, bringing you, your friends and family closer to the music you love.

The game - while Lips is an incredibly approachable social experience designed to be enjoyed by everyone from teens and tweens to adults, the game is not without challenges. Lips does not include "difficulty levels", not can you "fail out" of a song. However, it does have a deep scoring system, which measures pitch, rhythm, vibrato and how well you're singing the lyrics. Everyone will score well, but scoring great will require you to tap into your full vocal talents. Higher scores are rewarded with Achievements and Grand Rank-ups.

Lips is available for purchase through all major retailers with a suggested retail of $69.99. Please visit http://xbox.com for more information on this and other great game releases!