Category: Kids & Babies
What a Crazy Week!
| April 23, 2013 | Filled under Chicago Joy, Crafts, Creative Joy, Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy |
Last week has to have been the craziest week America has seen in a very long time, if ever! Here’s what we were up to…
Last Sunday, we took a FREE tile backsplash workshop at Home Depot:
Last Monday, we prayed for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and their families:
Then, we stayed up almost all night putting up our back splash:
Last Wednesday, we prayed some more for the victims of the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion and their families:
That night, we braced ourselves for the storm that was heading towards the Chicago area. We checked on our basement and sump pump, which were fine, before going to bed, but we ended up having to deal with this since Thursday morning:
We stayed up again Thursday and Friday nights cleaning up the basement and prayed for all those who were affected by the flood much worse than we are. We then prayed some more for the residents of Cambridge, Watertown, and other areas surrounding Boston:
Saturday was very busy with my daughter’s gymnastics and dance classes, my husband being called into work, and a wedding we attended over an hour away:
Sunday was another busy day with my Goddaughter’s first communion. I spent the morning making these chocolate covered pretzel rods for party favors:
What I didn’t do last week…
Sleep and study!
What was your week like last week or what happened during your craziest week? Leave me a comment below 
And make sure to watch for more posts about installing our mosaic tile backsplash, dealing with flood damage, and making chocolate covered pretzel party favors!
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Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Easter!: Melissa & Doug Easter Shop and Giveaway
| March 12, 2013 | Filled under Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy |
Melissa & Doug has some great toys and surprises to put in Easter baskets in their Easter Shop! Plus, to celebrate Easter, they are giving one lucky winner $200 to spend in their Easter Shop during their Easter Basket Giveaway! Just fill out this form by Wednesday, March 20th. And don’t forget to sign up for their newsletter to receive 10% off your next purchase at Melissa & Doug.
Thanks for visiting! Keep up with My Joys by subscribing to my email newsletter, “liking” me on Facebook, & following me on Twitter!
Disclosure: I was provided with a discount from Melissa & Doug for sharing this information. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Review/Giveaway!: Premama Prenatal Vitamin – Ends 3/19 at 12:01 am EST
| March 11, 2013 | Filled under Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy, Reviews/Giveaways |
Premama is a doctor-recommended prenatal vitamin drink mix with key prenatal vitamins and minerals that help reduce the risk of some birth defects and promote healthy fetal development. It also includes ingredients that help relieve nausea and digestive symptoms such as constipation, which are 2 common side effects of other prenatal vitamins. Premama contains:
- Folic acid and choline to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
- Chelated iron for healthy blood cell formation.
- Biotin to help support embryo growth.
- Vitamin D3 for healthy bone health and immune function.
- DHA Omega-3 fatty acid, which is suggested to support fetal cognitive development and protect against postpartum depression.
- B Vitamins to help provide energy.
- Coenzyme Q10 to help reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia.
- Ginger root to help with nausea relief.
Premama is most effective if taken while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding and can be mixed with any juice, fruit-flavored beverage, iced tea, or milk.
MY REVIEW:
Premama comes in packets that are very easy to open. They are meant to be taken as 2 packets per day (either twice a day or 2 at once) so I like how they come with 2 packets attached to each other. When I was pregnant, it was difficult for me to remember whether or not I took my prenatal vitamin each day, so I think this would help with remembering.
I was curious to see if the drink mix had any taste or smell so I mixed one packet with water and another with orange juice. I definitely do not recommend that it be mixed with only water. It tasted and smelled like fish, BUT I was barely able to taste it when it was mixed with orange juice. In fact, the orange juice hid the taste of the drink mix pretty well, so I think it will work well with any drink as long as the taste of the drink is strong enough. It did take a couple of minutes for the powder to dissolve in the juice, but I think this is a great alternative to the traditional prenatal vitamin, especially if you have a hard time swallowing large pills or have any side effects from the other vitamins.
GIVEAWAY!:
I’m happy to give one (1) My Joy My World reader a 30-day supply of Premama Prenatal Vitamin Powdered Supplement Mix ($25 value) provided by Premama! Entries will be accepted through Tuesday, March 19th at 12:01 am EST. Enter below (it is mandatory to leave a blog post comment…all other entries are optional but will give you more chances to win):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for visiting! Keep up with My Joys by subscribing to my email newsletter, “liking” me on Facebook, & following me on Twitter! Disclosure: Premama provided me with the product to review and giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own and true. Although I reviewed the prenatal vitamin, I am not pregnant This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Save!: 5 Dr. Seuss Books & Backpack for $5.95 Shipped
| March 6, 2013 | Filled under Deals/Discounts, Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy, Savings Joy |
One reason I absolutely love Dr. Seuss’s books is they are great for everyone of all ages! In fact, one of my favorite books, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, is a gift I like to give to high school and college graduates and it is always well-appreciated. March is unofficially Dr. Seuss’s month since his birthday is March 2nd, and right now, you can get 5 books by Dr. Seuss plus a FREE backpack for only $5.95 shipped when you join the Dr. Seuss & His Friends book club! The 5 hardcover books you’ll receive are:
- The Cat in the Hat
- Mr. Brown Can Moo
- Ten Apples On Top
- Go Dog Go!
- The Tooth Book
By joining the Dr. Seuss & His Friends book club, you’ll receive 3 hardcover books by Dr. Seuss per month for less than $5 per book. You can control your membership online and cancel anytime. They also guarantee 100% satisfaction, so if you are unhappy with your purchase, you can return the books (but keep the backpack) for a full refund.
Important: This is a monthly book club that will automatically charge your account and send you books each month unless you cancel your membership (if you only want the 5 books and backpack for $5.95, make sure to cancel your membership when you receive your products). To manage your account, call 1-800-353-3140 or login to your account online: https://www.earlymoments.com/Login/
What’s your favorite book by or quote by Dr. Seuss? Leave me a comment below Here is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes:
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Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Hockey!: Rockford IceHogs Games – Fun Family Experience
| February 6, 2013 | Filled under Chicago Joy, Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy |
The Rockford IceHogs is the proud American Hockey League Affiliate to the Chicago Blackhawks. Their games are a great family experience with Top Shot, an interactive hockey inspired shooting game located on the main concourse where you can test your hockey skills, and the IceHogs Runts Club, which by joining you’ll have the opportunity to take your little one down to the tunnel to high-five all the players as they walk off the ice and help pick up Chuck-A-Pucks with them on the ice. If you prefer to stay off the ice, you can purchase Chuck-A-Pucks and take part in an exciting intermission activity where you have the opportunity to win $500 Oink Outfitters bucks and other prizes. Every IceHogs game offers tons of contest, raffles, and enter to wins for the whole family!
Rockford IceHogs games are held at the BMO Harris Bank Center located at 300 Elm Street in Rockford, IL. Tickets start as low as $8.
Here are some promotions going on this month:
- Saturday, February 9th: IceHogs vs Houston Aeros @ 7:05 pm. GIVEAWAY: Colin Fraser Bobblehands (like a bobblehead but the hands bobble) for the first 2,500.
- Saturday, February 16th: IceHogs vs Abbotsford Heat @ 7:05 pm. GIVEAWAY: Floppy Hats for the first 1,500.
- Sunday, February 17th: IceHogs vs Lake Erie Monsters @ 5:05 pm. GIVEAWAY: Tooth Brush Holder for the first 1,000. This is also the last Skate With The Hogs Night so bring your skates and meet the players after the game!
- Friday, February 22nd: IceHogs vs Grand Rapids @7:05 pm. GIVEAWAY: Water Bottles for the first 2,500.
Find more dates and purchase your tickets from Ticketmaster here.
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Disclosure: I will be receiving tickets for my family and I to attend a Rockford IceHogs game for sharing this information. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Review!: Disney On Ice Presents Rockin’ Ever After
| January 31, 2013 | Filled under Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy, Reviews/Giveaways |
Disney On Ice has a new show called Rockin’ Ever After that my family and I had the privilege of attending last week at Allstate Arena. I loved the show, but the most enjoyable part for me, was watching my 2-year old’s reactions throughout the show! Lia has been to other shows before, including Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! just 2 days before, but they were always in a theater so it was a little crowded and loud so it always took at least half-way through the show before she would warm up and really start reacting to the characters. But as soon as we walked into the arena, and she saw the Mickey Mouse silhouette in front of her, she was super excited for the show! Ever since we went to Disney World last June, Lia has loved everything Minnie Mouse and the Disney Jr. show, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has become one of her favorites. I loved seeing her face light up when she saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy hit the ice! She kept yelling, “Look Mommy! It’s Mickey Mouse!” She even sang and danced throughout almost the entire show.
Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After is set up like a variety show produced by Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy and features “mini-acts” of The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Brave, and Beauty and the Beast. The skating, including the jumps and lifts, formations of the skaters, costumes, sets, lighting, special effects, and music were all amazing! And in true magical Disney fashion, there were parts of the show when I found myself looking up in the rafters thinking “How did they do that?” I also loved that the characters interacted with the audience and had so much fun watching Lia wave to each character with so much excitement, especially since she’s typically pretty reserved and shy in public. My favorite act was “Under the Sea” where they used black lights to show some of the vibrant colors of the sea creatures in the dark as they “swam” by. My husband thought the show might have been one act too long, but I thought it was the perfect length, lasting a little over 2 hours, including intermission. My only complaint is that there is so much cool and fun merchandise to purchase that is so expensive, but I guess that is to be expected 
Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After is in Chicago at the United Center through Sunday, February 10th. Check out my previous post for more information about the show, including how to find out if Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After is coming to a city near you, and to find out how to get up to 40% off your tickets!
Thanks for visiting! Keep up with My Joys by subscribing to my email newsletter, “liking” me on Facebook, & following me on Twitter!
Disclosure: I received tickets to Disney on Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After in exchange for sharing this information. All of the opinions expressed are my own and true. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Review!: Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!
| January 22, 2013 | Filled under Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy, Reviews/Giveaways |
My family and I were so lucky to get to watch Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! in Milwaukee yesterday! It was full of so much energy and fun, packed with singing, dancing, confetti, and bubbles. They sang most of my daughter’s favorite Yo Gabba Gabba! songs, and the show even included the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance Time. It was so much fun seeing my 2-year old sing and dance along!
My one disappointment was that Biz Markie was not part of the show we attended, so there was no Biz’s Beat of the Day as advertised, which is one of my daughter’s favorite parts of Yo Gabba Gabba!. I have some friends who attended the Chicago show who said that was the best part of the show. Apparently, he even played some “old school” music for the parents. I am not sure if it was because Biz Markie was missing from the show, but from start to finish, including intermission, it was only about an hour and 15 minutes long. Despite that, it was still a great time, and my daughter didn’t even realize Biz wasn’t there.
If your child is really into Yo Gabba Gabba!, I would really recommend taking them to see Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!. The show was a lot of fun for both the kids and parents! It truly was AWWESSSOOMMMEEE!!! But I will give you a warning: my daughter has been asking to watch Yo Gabba Gabba! non-stop since the show!
Make sure to read my previous post about Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE: Get the Sillies Out! for more information about the show and to find out if they are stopping by a city near you.
Thanks for visiting! Keep up with My Joys by subscribing to my email newsletter, “liking” me on Facebook, & following me on Twitter!
Disclosure: I was provided with tickets to Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! for my family and me in exchange for sharing this information. All of the opinions expressed are my own and true. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Show!: Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! in Chicago & Milwaukee 1/19-1/21
| January 16, 2013 | Filled under Chicago Joy, Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy |
Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! is coming to Chicago and Milwaukee! I am so excited to jump, shake, and shimmy them out with Plex, Toodee, Muno, Brobee, Foofa, DJ Lance, and, of course, my little Lia!
Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! will be performing 4 shows in Chicago and 2 shows in Milwaukee this weekend:
- Saturday and Sunday, January 19th-20th, at the Akoo Theater in Rosemont, IL
- Monday, January 21st, at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, WI
Click here for all of their tour stops and date.
Tickets start at $23.00. Children under 1 year old do not require a paid ticket to sit on a parent’s lap. VIP Party packages, which include a ticket in the first 15 rows, a pass to “Get the Sillies Out” in the private VIP room featuring a super fun party with the Gabba Gang (costumed characters), and more, are also available.
About Yo Gabba Gabba!: Yo Gabba Gabba! is an award-winning, live-action television series and live stage show whose unconventional formula has created a triple stacked fan base, making it one of the most popular entertainment properties among preschoolers, parents and indie music lovers alike. The television show, now in its fourth season, airs several times a day on Nick Jr.
About Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!: Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! marks the third tour for the successful Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! concert series. The first tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: There’s a Party in My City!, launched with a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a performance at the White House in 2010. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! 2010 tour played to sold out venues in 60 cities. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! enjoyed repeat success in 2011, energizing audiences across North America at over 120 shows.
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Disclosure: I am receiving tickets for my family and I to attend the show for sharing this information. All of the opinions expressed are my own. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Save!: $1 Off Admission at Exploration Station Children’s Museum in Bourbonnais, IL
| January 16, 2013 | Filled under Chicago Joy, Coupons, Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy, Savings Joy |
Exploration Station is a children’s museum with 10,000 square feet of hands on learning to explore. Fix a tire in their Wreck Resort Auto Center, serve a sundae in the Lickety Split Soda Shop, shop for groceries in their Shop-a-Lot Market, and set the table in My House. Children and parents can get lost in imagination and time in their 2 story Castle. Younger visitors can explore and climb in their New Little Squires Toddler area for ages 2 years and under. Don’t forget to take to the sky in the Exploration Station Airliner, and dig for Dinosaurs in Dino Tracks. Their Museum is known for creating an environment where children get lost in imagination. Make sure to experience it for yourself!
Admission: $6
Got Cabin Fever? Get out of the house and explore in the Exploration Station…a children’s museum. My readers will save $1 off Admission with this exclusive coupon!
This is an exclusive offer brought to you by WindyCityKidsGuide!
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Disclosure: I was offered a family pass to Exploration Station for sharing this information. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
Show!: Up To 40% Off Disney On Ice Presents Rockin’ Ever After in Chicago 1/23-2/10
| January 13, 2013 | Filled under Chicago Joy, Deals/Discounts, Kids & Babies, Mommy Joy, Savings Joy |
Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After is coming to Chicago! Here’s a little bit about the show:
Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After! Get ready to rock out with some of the most magical idols of all in a musical showcase that features the hottest tunes and talent from across the kingdom in Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After! Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the latest Disney•Pixar film, Brave, competes to win the heart of headstrong, sharp-shooting Merida, making her ice debut! Experience a show-stopping performance as Sebastian breaks out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel. A chorus of harmless hooligans from Tangled unleashes musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn. And, get your feet moving as the Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle. It will be a rockin’ remix of royalty when Disney On Ice brings this superstar line-up to Chicagoland! Playing Allstate Arena Jan. 23-27 and United Center Jan. 30-Feb. 10 with FREE PARKING in all official arena parking lots. Get your tickets today at Ticketmaster!
Save!: My Joy My World readers will save 40% on weekday shows and 20% on weekend shows when you enter MOM3 at checkout online at Ticketmaster!
If you would like to try to win some FREE tickets to Disney on Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After in Chicago, make sure to enter the giveaways on these blogs (hurry, most of them end SOON)!:
If you’re not in the Chicago area, look for Disney on Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After on Ticketmaster so see if they’re coming to a city near you!
Thanks for visiting! Keep up with My Joys by subscribing to my email newsletter, “liking” me on Facebook, & following me on Twitter!
Disclosure: I am receiving tickets to Disney on Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After in exchange for sharing this information. This post may include affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.
