A Guide to Properly Childproofing Your Home

February 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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If you have kids, especially young kids, your main priority will be keeping them as safe as you can. While you can’t wrap your kids up in cotton wool, you do need to make sure you are all living in a safe environment. Moving into a nice house is all well and good, but is your house properly childproofed? If it isn’t, you could be putting your kids in danger! This guide will make sure your home is childproofed properly:

Keep Glass Frames Out of the Way

Having photos in your home is great and can personalize it nicely, but having them where your child can reach is dangerous. If they knock one over or grab one, the glass could shatter. This is a really quick way for them to hurt themselves! Keep glass frames well out of the way and replace with plastic if possible.

Matches and Candles Out of Reach
Matches and candles should always be out of reach of your children. If your child eats a match, it could be very dangerous. Even very young children can light matches. If you think your child knows not to touch matches, think again. It’s always better to be safe and sorry. Keeping candles out of reach is important, as candle wax can be dangerous to kids too.

Mount Your TV

Having your TV on a stand could be fatal if your child knocks it and it falls over. Mount your TV securely on the wall and make sure you keep all of the wires as tidy as you can.

Protect Them from the Fireplace

Having a fireplace in the home can be lovely, but you must protect your children from the dangers. A fireguard is important for keeping your kids away from the actual fire. If there are small stones or anything like that in your fire, get rid of them. Swallowing one could be fatal. Then you need to take care of the sharp edges by padding them up. Also make sure you keep any tools for lighting your fire well out of the way.

Protect Glass and Edges

If you have any items in your home that are not tempered glass, beware that they can break easily. This is most common with coffee tables. If your child is to fall through the coffee table, it could be fatal. Also make sure you protect the edges here too, as it could cut them somewhere very sensitive, like their eyes.

Lock Your Cabinets

Lock all of your cabinets that contain anything even remotely dangerous. Even a cabinet filled with plastic bags could be dangerous to a baby or toddler. The Baby Lodge can provide effective locks to put on your cupboards and protect your children.

Put a Gate on the Stairs and Kitchen

Having a stair gate will stop your children from climbing and falling. However, having a gate to the kitchen is important too, as it’s one of the most dangerous rooms in the home.

Don’t take any chances when it comes to protecting your children.

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Twitter Party with #BedtimeBattle 2/23 at 8 pm EST

February 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! I am sure we have all been there at one point or another. Struggling to get our little ones to brush their teeth before bed! But we all know just how important it is to make sure we get that teeth time in! All young children need help with brushing from an adult to make sure a good job is done.

  • As soon as baby is born, you can start good oral health practices. If possible, use a soft washcloth to wipe your baby’s gums after feedings. Remember not to put babies to bed with a bottle filled with milk. And, when it is time to introduce solids, choose healthy foods to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
  • For children under age 3: As soon as you see a tooth in your baby’s mouth you can start to BRUSH! Use a smear (grain of rice) of toothpaste with fluoride 2 times per day.
  • For children ages 3–6: Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. It is OK to let them practice with the brush, but you get your turn too.


On Tuesday, February 23rd, the Ad Council’s Kids’ Healthy Mouths campaign will hold a Twitter chat to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month with cohosts Momfluential, HaveSippy and Teeth Fairies and we would love for you to join us!

The chat will focus on how parents can win the #BedtimeBattle with the 3 Bs: Brush, Book, Bed. Tips will be shared for structuring children’s nighttime routines in a healthy way (including brushing for 2 minutes) that helps them get to sleep.

Together, we can win the #BedtimeBattle for healthier children and happier parents – and you might even win prizes from Teeth Fairies. It’s a win/win.

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Win New “Delivery Dash at the Docks” DVD from Chuggington

February 22, 2016 by 32 Comments

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The latest Chuggington title from Anchor Bay Entertainment features six fun-fueled adventures from the popular Disney Junior TV series and stars two new characters, Daley and Skipper Stu! The DVD is also available with a special Daley collectible toy train from TOMY™, making it the perfect addition to any young fan’s Easter basket!

A special delivery of traintastic fun is coming down the tracks for young trainees all across the country this season with “Delivery Dash at the Docks,” the newest release in the much-loved “Chuggington™” DVD collection. The brand-new title from Anchor Bay Entertainment contains six standout episodes from the fifth season of the top-rated Disney Junior series as well as trainloads of exciting bonus features. The DVD features two new characters, Daley and Skipper Stu, and is available with a very special Daley collectible toy train from TOMY™ to give preschool fans and their families even more to honk their horns about! “Delivery Dash at the Docks” moves full steam ahead to retail nationwide on February 23, 2016.

In “Delivery Dash at the Docks,” Koko is thrilled to be spending the day training with Chuggington’s new express delivery engine, Daley. Together they pick up and deliver important packages all around Chuggington, frequenting the bustling docks where Skipper Stu, Chuggington’s new Dock Master, is loading and unloading the ship. Through their engaging adventures, Koko, Skipper Stu and all the Chuggers learn the importance of patience, paying careful attention to detail and teamwork!

Episodes:

  • Delivery Dash at the Docks Special
  • Sinkhole Rescue
  • Cormac Patrol
  • Trainee Camp
  • Tour Guide Harrison
  • Delivery Challenge

DVD Bonus Features:

  • Badge Quest Episodes: Buddy Badge and Follow the Leader
  • Character Montages: Olwin
  • Coloring Pages

Dove.org, the long-trusted source for family-friendly media reviews, reports: “Now this is what good children’s entertainment is about! The stories are terrific, the characters are delightful, and the animation is awesome!”

For additional “Chuggington”-themed adventure, fans can visit the Amtrak Exhibit Train Tour as it travels across the country. For more information visit: www.amtrak.com/exhibit-train.

About “Chuggington™”

“Chuggington” is a contemporary, action-based, energetic and vibrant CGI series for children ages 2-5. The series follows the adventures of three young trainees – Wilson and his friends Brewster and Koko – as they ride the rails and take on exciting challenges that test their courage, speed and determination. Along the way, and with help and support from a strong community of engines and people, they learn positive values and new skills that empower them to become the best trainees they can be. Further information is available at www.chuggington.com.
One of you can win a copy of this DVD- just use the RC form below to enter. Ends March 18, 2016. Good luck!
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Filed Under: entertainment, giveaway, movie, review

JCPenney for all your small appliance needs

February 22, 2016 by 28 Comments

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Recently if you are one of the lucky millions who watched the Super Bowl, you probably also had a ton of delicious snacks.  Making these treats takes time energy, as well as the proper tools and appliances. With the right tools any dish is possible from Green Dragon Shrimp to Chicken Lollipops with Asian dipping sauce.  Some tools needed to make these delicious dishes are a deep fryer, mini food chopper and a cast iron grill.  With these tools not only will you be able to grill in the kitchen any time of year but also make some incredible sauces and dips as well as perfectly cook all manner of snacks and meals not normally in your recipe vocabulary.  The place to find all these wonderful tools and more?  JCPenney is your one stop small appliance shop, where blenders and slow cookers help make the creamiest soup and chunkiest chili while griddles and bring the flavors of Summer to the dead of Winter.  JCPenney has popular brands like KitchenAid, Oster, Cooks, Nuwave and TFal.

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We recently had the pleasure of checking out some appliances and tasting some amazing recipes that are perfect for your next party.   What to make, how to make it, and what to use to make it- nothing easier.  I think sometimes I believe new foods/new recipes will be more complicated then they really will be, especially if I’ve never tried to make them before.  However, being able to watch JCPenny’s Chef Josh Capon create fun and delicious dishes right in front of us made it easier to want to try making them at home.  It was also fun to see what items he used to cook them with, and what made cooking easier and take less time.  Honestly, I’m all about the “quick and easy”, especially when it comes to parties.

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Not only is JCPenny a great place to go for all your party and kitchen needs, but you can also win a very cool cutting board.  Something fun for your kitchen, no matter if you are a football fan or not- this is signed by actor Jerry O’Connell and Josh Capon, so it’s both a collector item and a conversation piece.

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If you’d like to win, all you need to do is enter the RC form below.  Good luck!  Ends on March 17, 2016.    (This is the updated RC form from the last post- thanks for your patience!)

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: cooking, giveaway, review

Chicken Lollipops

February 22, 2016 by 10 Comments

Here is a quick great recipe for Buffalo and Asian BBQ Chicken Lollipops by Chef Josh Capon.  These were snapped up in seconds, and smelled amazing as well.   This recipe was provided by Chef Josh Capon at the JCPenny Tailgating Party, and is perfect for the next party you are throwing.

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Ingredients:

5 lbs chicken wingettes

1 cup flour

1 bottle Franks hot sauce, or hot sauce of your choice

1 pint bleu cheese dressing

2 cups Hoisin sauce

1/2 cup soy suace

2 tbsp Tabasco

2 tsp fresh lime juice

1 cup season rice wine vinegar

vegetable oil for deep fryer

black and white sesame seeds

celery, carrot and cucumber sticks

salt and pepper

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  1. Chop off both ends of the wingettes using a sharp knife removing the joints.  Pull out one of the two bones and push the meat to one side.  Set aside in fridge until ready to use.  These can also be frozen at this point to decrease prep time during the week
  2. Make the Asian BBQ sauce:  Mix together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and Tabasco in a small mixing bowl
  3. Marinate the cucumber sticks in the rice wine vinegar for one hour then remove and place in refrigerator.
  4. Preheat fryer to 375 degrees, season wings in a mixing bowl with salt, pepper and a light dusting of flour.  Place wings into fryer and cook at 375 in small batches until golden brown.
  5. Let drain then place in a bowl with with salt.  Then toss in your choice of sauces and coat thoroughly.  Serve the Buffalo wings with bleu cheese and celery as well as carrot sticks.  The Asian BBQ wings can be sprinkled with the sesame seeds and served with the pickled cucumbers.
  6. Serve immediately and move out of the way.  Once your guests try these they will disappear fast as well as your hand if you aren’t careful.
Filed Under: food, recipes Tagged With: ,

Snow White Bonus Clips – “Fairest Facts”

February 21, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Have you gotten a copy of the Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs yet?  To celebrate it’s recent release, here are some cute clips and fun facts for you.

Snow White Bonus – “Fairest Facts”

Some Fun Facts for the Snow White enthusiast
Download Fun Facts

Filed Under: disney, entertainment, movie Tagged With:

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar out on Disney DVD Feb. 23

February 21, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Disney’s epic adventure The Lion King continues with Simba and Nala’s second-born cub, Kion, and his Lion Guard team as they embark on adventures together throughout the Pride Lands! Follow him as he brings together a group of unlikely heroes: Bunga the honey badger, Fuli the cheetah, Beshte the hippo and Ono the egret. Join this heroic band as they use their unique abilities to defend the Pride Lands from predators and maintain the Circle of Life. As King Mufasa said,” Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.”
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This new movie is packed with laughs, music, beloved characters and heart, The Lion Guard: Return Of The Roar is a must-own for the entire family! Bring home this heroic adventure on Disney DVD February 23rd!

Bring Home This Heroic Adventure on Disney DVD February 23rd

Includes a Digital Copy of the Film, an Exclusive Talking Backpack Clip and 

“Here Comes The Lion Guard” Music Video Performed by Beau Black

Synopsis:                                Meet Kion, second-born cub of Simba and Nala, as he assumes the role of leader of “The Lion Guard,” an elite team of animals tasked with preserving the Pride Lands. Follow him as he assembles a group of unlikely heroes: Bunga the honey badger, Fuli the cheetah, Beshte the hippo and Ono the egret. Join them on a thrilling adventure as they use their unique abilities to defend the Pride Lands from predators and maintain balance within the Circle of Life. Bursting with humor, music, beloved characters and heart, The Lion Guard: Return Of The Roar is a must-own for the entire family!

Voice Cast:                             James Earl Jones and Ernie Sabella reprise their roles from “The Lion King” as Mufasa and Pumbaa, respectively, alongside Rob Lowe (“The Grinder”) as Simba and Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane”) as Nala; Max Charles (“The Amazing Spider-Man 2”) stars as Kion; Joshua Rush (“The Adventures of Puss in Boots”) as Bunga; Atticus Shaffer (“The Middle”) as Ono; Diamond White (“Sofia the First”) as Fuli; and Dusan Brown (“Blaze and the Monster Machines”) as Beshte.

Additional cast members include: Eden Riegel (“All My Children”) as Kiara; Sarah Hyland (“Modern Family”) as Tiifu; Madison Pettis (“Jake and the Never Land Pirates”) as Zuri; Khary Payton (“Teen Titans”) as Rafiki; Jeff Bennett as Zazu (“Jake and the Never Land Pirates”); Jonny Rees (“Star Wars Rebels”) as Mzingo; Andrew Kishino (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Janja; Vargus Mason (“Sofia the First”) as Cheezi; and Kevin Schon (“The Lion King 1 1/2”) as Chungu and Timon.

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6 Stunning Spots in Jamaica Every Traveler Should See

February 21, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The shores of Jamaica attract millions of visitors every year. With plenty of budget holidays and low cost accommodation, there’s never been a better time for a Caribbean holiday. If you’re planning to explore this tropical island, be sure to visit some of these jaw-dropping natural wonders.

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Mystic Mountain

The famed Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios is home to one of the most popular, most exhilarating attractions in Jamaica. Starting your adventure into the heart of this rainforest, walking routes or a chairlift will take to you to the summit of the 700 foot mountain. Admire the spectacular ocean views before hopping aboard a bobsled. Set on a 1,000 meter metal track, you’ll whizz down the mountain and take in the vibrant eco system along the way.

Doctor’s Cave Beach

No trip to Jamaica would be complete without sampling one of its beaches. Doctor’s Cove in Montego Bay is one of the best — a sweeping strip of palm fringed white sands. It’s long been attracting visitors from around the world with many believing the crystal waters have rejuvenating and curative properties. Even the cynics can agree, this is one of the most relaxing spots on the island.

Martha Brae River

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Jamaica’s rural landscape with a guided tour down the Martha Brae River. Locals lead the expedition aboard a bamboo raft which offers an authentic insight into the region. Expect beautiful fauna and flora and make sure you bring a swimsuit. There are lots of chances to cool down with a swim and escape the midday heat.

Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park

Covering an expanse of 200,000 acres, this national park is a nature lover’s paradise. The preserve is home to more than 800 endemic plant species and over 200 species of tropical birds. Hike deep into the rainforest and you can marvel at towering waterfalls and jaw dropping scenery. The adventurous can also climb to the summit of Jamaica’s highest point, Blue Mountain Peak.

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Dunn’s River Falls

One of the island’s national treasures, this collection of cascading waterfalls is Jamaica’s top-grossing attraction. Visitors can amble across the gentle tiers of limestone or take a refreshing dip in one of the plunge pools. Arrive early and you’ll avoid the crowds of tourists for a secluded experience.

Black River

Spanning over 50km, Black River is one of the longest rivers in Jamaica. Its murky depths are home to a huge array of fish species and crocodiles. It may not be safe for swimming but visitors can take a guided boat tour and learn more about the diverse ecology. Along the way, you’ll spot herons, snowy egrets and many other beautiful bird species.

Take some time to visit some of these must-see attractions on your next Jamaica holiday and you’ll be guaranteed an unforgettable experience. It’s just one of the world’s most fantastic islands you can visit.

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