Reviews by mhew

mhew says "Great Book For New Moms!" about The Yummy Mummy

mhew — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:23:04 GMT

You are a first-time mom. Your body isn't what it used to be, you have a child who is totally dependent on you and your body. Your life consists of giving this little person all your love and attention, while putting your own personal interests (and self-grooming) aside. You don't even recognize yourself anymore.

*spoiler alert*
Amy Crane is that mom. She is mourning her past life of being a beautiful, independent and successful young business woman in London. She does not even feel like the same person anymore. She is hormonal, sensitive and ticked off, but she loves her little baby girl, Evie with every ounce of her being. This is a story that is repeated throughout the world time and again. It is typically what motherhood can do to most of us.

That is what this novel, The Yummy Mummy, is all about. Amy Crane is on a mission to reinvent and rediscover herself. With the help of her new friend and mentor, Alice, she embarks on "Project Amy", a journey that takes her into......

mhew says "Don't just get it because it's 'Dora'" about Ginsey Dora 3-in-1 Potty Seat

mhew — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:43:32 GMT

It's that time again! My youngest is now 19 months young, and I'm on the verge of potty-training her. At the moment, I am just introducing her to the idea. Talking about it, about where it all goes, the excitement of undies, having her sit on the big toilet, etc. Of course, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, and Daddy being home for the long weekend, I feel the need to take advantage of his presence so that he can keep Big Sister busy while I attempt to train the little one. Part of the preparation, of course, is buying the potty!

Purchasing A Potty
The one thing I did wrong, was go to the store without an idea of what I really wanted. I knew I didn't want to spend much, that was about it. So I skimmed the potty section, and what catches my eye, but this bright red potty seat with a character my little girl loves, the Dora the Explorer 3-in-1 Potty Set. I will, first of all, admit that it wasn't the first time I've seen it. The very first time was at a friend's house......

mhew says "Be inspired by and interact with other artists" about Artistful.com

mhew — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:53:03 GMT

I have stumbled across another internet gem, Artistful.com! I am always looking for inspiration and also a way to get feedback and interact with other artists. Artistful.com is just that kind of place. On this website, you will find a large community of artists and crafters of every genre. But, it is not a community alone. You can also sell your artwork in its original form or sell prints of your work, if you choose not to part with the original just yet.

Show It Off!
Artistful.com is currently still in its Beta mode, so it is always improving and changing things. Currently you can show off your art via your personal Gallery, where you display artwork and prints for sale, and your portfolio, where the rest of your artwork goes.

Selling Your Art
Artistful.com does get a portion of your print sales, but you can set the commission to up to 100% of the base price. They also charge 20% of your sale of original artwork. But, according to their FAQ, most other art websites will charge......

mhew says "If they're growing up techies, let them be educated!" about Top 10 Educational Websites For Preschoolers

mhew — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:11:46 GMT

My daughter, who is nearly four years old, learned to play computer games at just under 3 years of age. Ever since we first let her play around on our laptops, her ability to maneuver the touchpad and some of the keys has taken off! I am amazed at some of the games she is able to play, and her world has been opened up to so many new things and ideas. All age-appropriate, of course.

I have found myself hunting down educational sites for her to play around with and saving them as favorites for her on the kid-friendly browser I downloaded under her screen name on hubby's laptop.

Here is a list of those I find most educational...

Starfall.com - This website is a great tool for helping your child learn to read. Children explore the sounds each letter makes, one letter at a time. There are interactive books and activities and printables. Start your child on basic Phonics as early as possible. The website is split up into levels from beginner to expert reader.
Sesamestreet.org -Where...

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mhew says "Educational video gaming for little ones." about Leapster Learning System

mhew — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:02:38 GMT

Before I had children, I swore I would keep the kids away from video games as long as possible. My mindset was, whatever happened to the good old days when children did more constructive things, like playing with actual toys and playing outside? For me, too much TV and too many video games contribute to lazy children. Aside from the increase in the intake of junk/fast food, it's a wonder the average child is overweight this day and age.

Once I had my children, I learned instead to live by the good old-fashioned motto, "everything in moderation". Too much of anything can be bad for anyone. My children are ages 3+ years and 19 months at the moment, and yes, they watch TV everyday, for most of the day. But, they aren't glued to it. They alternate between watching, playing, snacking, and my oldest even gravitates to the other room to play educational games on my husband's laptop, where she has her own screen name and kid's browser.

A Travel Companion
My husband and I like to travel. ......

mhew says "Children's books you can read online before you buy" about Lookybook

mhew — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:06:09 GMT

I have found, that when browsing through the children's book section of a book store, I wind up picking up the books and reading them cover to cover. I want to know what the message is, I want to see all of the illustrations and I want to be entertained by it with my children in mind.

How do you do that online? There are plenty of websites out there that feature children's books, some of them even have previews of the books. But, you can never read them cover to cover and get the real feel of them.

Enter Lookybook.com
Lookybook is the first website of its kind for parents who love to buy books for their children. It has a collection of children's picture books for you to look at and even read from cover to cover. You can actually "turn" the pages of the book right on the website. When you join, you create a brief profile and then you can begin building a virtual "bookshelf" with your favorite children's books. Each book can be rated individually using a 5-heart rating. You......

mhew says "Alot of juice out of a few veggies" about Jack Lalanne Power Juicer

mhew — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:59:12 GMT

The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. We bought it so that we can introduce healthier juice options to our children, especially during our oldest's stages of avoiding veggies altogether.

Quality You Pay For
The only "con" I can think of for this product, is its price. We paid approximately $100 for this juice, but we wanted the best, and we believed the reviews and trusted the advertisements. We were not dissappointed. It is very easy to use and the pulp really is a lot drier than the pulp that is left behind by other juicers. This means you are getting as much juice as possible out of the fruit and vegetables you juice.

Leave It On The Countertop
We don't have very much counter space, so for a while our juicer was not being used, simply because it was always stashed and we didn't feel like pulling it out and putting it together everytime we decided to make juice. A good friend of ours, who also happens to be very health-conscious, advised us to......

mhew says "This thing is so cool!" about Logitech - Harmony One Remote

mhew — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:24:09 GMT

The Logitech Harmony One universal remote control is about the coolest little gizmo I have come across! My husband and I love it, it's so easy to use and you rarely have to get up out of your seat to use your entertainment system (if only it could put the discs into the DVD player for you).

What's different about this remote?
This remote control connects to you computer by USB input. It comes with a disc that you use to download the set up program. Using this program, you set up a user name and password so that you can personalize your remote and come back to customize it any time. We have foudn every one of our entertainment electronics in their database. Our TV, mini-system, VCR and even our projector! Once you've selected all of your electronics and set them up the way you'd like to use them, you complete the set up and the program sends the information into your Harmony One remote.

It has a touch-screen where you select which activities you want at the moment. Our remote......

mhew says "It's basic, but does the job" about Hamilton Beach 70560

mhew — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:55:29 GMT

My Hamilton Beach food processor was a gift from my mom when she was moving away this spring and couldn't take everything with her. I love it! I have no other food processor to compare it with, so I can't honestly say it is "the best".

What I can say is that it is very simple to use. It has only two speeds and a pulse button. It has a main spinning blade and an optional shredding/slicing disc. The disc sits on top of the container and you can flip it upside down depending on whether you want to shred or slice.

What can I say, other than, it works? I love having a food processor now because it chops and dices so nice and quickly. I've made salsa dip, dough, chopped or diced veggies and even bread crumbs. I'd recommend it easily, but as I said, only because it's the only one I've ever tried....

mhew says "Bear with me, I'm a bit behind on the times" about Motorola - Razr Cell Phone

mhew — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:48:53 GMT

So, it's October 2008, and I've only had my Razr for a couple of months. I do realize that it is the original "out dated" model, but I do love it! My husband and I got "new" free phones when we switched to a new mobile provider, and this is the one he chose for me. It's a pretty nice phone! I love the sleek, slim design and I also love how it's not so small that it will get lost in my purse. I also love that it opens up long enough to reach my ear and mouth like a "normal" phone would. Yeah, that means I don't use my ear piece very much! Only when I'm driving, and trust me, that is also a first because I never bothered to go "hands-free" with my other phone. The Razr is also quite comfortable to use and handle. The buttons are very nice and I had no problem getting used to them. Don't mistake my not being up-to-date for not being tech-savvy. That I am. Anyhow, I would recommend the Razr, but if you're young and into text messaging and those phones that also double as MP3 players,......

mhew says "Want to learn to knit? This is the book for you!" about Knitting Pretty - Simple Instructions For 30 Fabulous Projects

mhew — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:43:02 GMT

Some years ago, I was on a mission to teach myself how to knit. The first thing I did, before buying the book, was get all the knitting materials I needed. I went on an auction website and bid on a large knitting lot of different types and sized needles and other do-dads I had no idea how to use. I had a basic idea of how to knit, but I had no idea of the other stitches involved. I also did not realize that it takes more than just a pair of the right sized straight knitting needles to knit almost anything other than a scarf. I am also the type who will try to find how-to instructions online for free before going out to buy a book. I found plenty of knitting patterns, but, oh my! It was another language to me, I just could not decipher all of the abbreviations, and when I did find the translations, I didn't know what they meant!

Knitting Pretty To The Rescue!
I soon realized I would not be able to figure out how to knit on my own. I found myself at the nearest Barnes & Noble...

mhew says "Great for potty inspiration!" about Sesame Street Elmo's Potty Time

mhew — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:00:01 GMT

When my daughter was potty training, my husband bought her this DVD to get her more excited about it. You can't ever expect a DVD to do the training for you, but it doesn't hurt to have a little assistance. Elmo made it fun, and even today, my daughter enjoys watching it, as we feel she sometimes needs reminders about hand-washing.

What We Love About Elmo's Potty Time
Elmo's Potty Time DVD is educational and entertaining. Elmo and the Sesame Street gang not only explain what going to the potty or toilet means, they also go into the subjects of what it entails. Including toilet-paper use, flushing and hand-washing. It also discusses the excitement of transitioning to underpants and also that it's OK to have accidents. It never labels potty readiness with an age, instead they encourage children to do it when they're ready. I love that it includes the positive message that, "even if you are not going to the potty now, don't worry, you will".

The video also has excellent entertainment...

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mhew says "Get your tot involved in the story" about In the Forest (Nature Trail Books)

mhew — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:50:21 GMT

What I Love About This Maurice Pledger's Book

The illustrations - The animals are so realistic and beautifully illustrated. The artwork is very detailed.
The textures - The materials used for the book's touch-and-feel effect are very creative. Your child will discover textures that are smooth, furry, velvety and even rough. My daughter hardly let me read, she was so eager to turn to the next pages and explore the next textures.
The story - The book leads you on a nature trail through the forest. This book not only has fun animal textures, each page has a flap that, when flipped, open reveals another creature which shares the same texture as the one on the flap. It introduces the child to interesting animals and fun surprises. The story is also in the form of a rhyming poem.

The only thing I can suggest, as with any paper book, take care to watch smaller children as they turn the pages. This book has taken a beating with my daughter when she was a year old. Sadly, some of...

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mhew says "Elmo learns the value of sharing" about Adventures Of Elmo In Grouchland

mhew — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:54:10 GMT

Elmo and His Blankie
Elmo loves his Blankie, they are inseparable. So much so, that Elmo is not wiling to share it with his friend Zoe, who only wants to hold it for a little while. "Mine!", he shouts. Being possessive is a stage most, if not all, children go through. And we all know it's normal. But, it also isn't very nice. After a tug-of-war to get his Blankie out of Zoe's grip, a gust of wind takes Blankie away and all over Sesame Street and eventually down Oscar the Grouch's trashcan. Elmo sneaks in to find it, and accidentally opens a door that sucks he and his precious Blankie down a warp hole to Grouchland!

A Greedy Villain
Elmo loses his Blankie in Grouchland to a villainous character who claims any item he comes in contact with, a true hoarder and junk collector. Brave Elmo sets on an adventurous journey to rescue his best friend and lovey. Greedy Huxley tries to stop him, setting traps along the way.

A Valuable Lesson
Throughout his journey, Elmo comes in contact...

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mhew says "One of the sweetest children's books about love" about Guess How Much I Love You

mhew — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:05:01 GMT

The Artwork of Guess How Much I Love You
Being an artist myself, I'm always attracted to the illustrations. The colors are soft,yet rich, and fittingly "earthy", since the plot takes place in a forest. The two hare characters are loveable and realistic, with a cartooney touch and some very non-hare-like body language. I can only wish to be so skilled with watercolors.

The Story
By the title of the book, you can already guess what it is about. This story takes a wonderful spin on the phrase, "I love you this much!"
What's fun about this story is how the father and son hares compete on how much one loves the other. The little hare meets tough competition when his father always out-measures his love for him. In the end, you really think the little guy has fiinally won this fun-loving game, until his father out-measures him one last time - but the way he does it, gives you such a warm feeling in your heart. You just want to hug and kiss your child at the end of this story. ...

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mhew says "Aaaaa-uh-ah-uh-aaaaaaagh!" about Tarzan

mhew — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:50:43 GMT

Disney's Tarzan is one of my favorite Disney films. It is part of my Disney VHS collection I started as a teen. Now that my daughter is old enough to sit through a feature-length film, she is breaking out my old VHS tapes and enjoying them with me.

***SPOILER***
The film invites you into the story of a boy, who as a baby was shipwrecked off the shores of Africa with his parents. The young couple attempted to survive in the wild with their baby boy, but a vicious leopard kills them (not shown in the film), leaving the baby boy barracaded behind furniture and under a blanket, temporarily hidden away from the hungry jungle cat. Fortunately, a female gorilla hears his cries and comes to his rescue just in time!

The animation and artwork are just wonderful, the music, some of which was written, produced and performed by Phil Collins, is captivating and just fun. The film itself is adventurous and exciting. You will literally go through every basic emotion as Tarzan faces the trials...

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mhew says "My Train-lovin' Daughter Loves This!" about Fisher-Price Geo-Trax Train system

mhew — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:57:14 GMT

Knowing how much our little girl loves trains, my husband thought it would be fun to get this for her. We bought it for her last year, before she was even 3 years old. It was easy for us to assemble and even easier for her to use.

This Geo-Trax train set is a wonderful toy. It gets a child involved in imaginitive play and gets the parents involved in getting down and playing with the kids. I know my husband and I take turns playing with our daughter. My husband loves to try and find different ways to assemble the tracks with my daughter. When he got her this toy he also bought her a box of extra tracks and props to make it even larger.

Our little girl loves to pick up passengers at the station and drop them off somewhere else and pick them up again. This set came with three figures, the conductor and two passengers. The remote control can make the train go forward, stop, or reverse. It also makes some great train sound effects.

The Grand Central Station "platform" has stairs...

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mhew says "Great for part-time pumping" about Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump

mhew — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:03:14 GMT

I have two daughters. Over three years ago, when I attempted to nurse my firstborn, I found it very hard. No one in my family could support me and found it easier to advise me to go with a bottle, since they were inexperienced. Of the few friends I did have that were experienced, I felt insignificant because they were so successful and I was having a terrible time. My problem, I had milk supply issues and my milk took a long time to come in, the Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump was not ideal for someone like me. Not for the frequency in which I needed to express milk.

At the time, I was also a working mom and had to return to work 1.5 months after my daughter's birth. Foolishly, I thought the Isis would be a good enough pump for me to take to work to express enough milk to feed my daughter the next day. It was not possible. Before I knew it, I was supplementing with formula because what little I expressed did not meet the amount my baby needed for each day. Eventually, she...

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mhew says "Best Dr. Seuss adaptation yet!" about Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

mhew — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:17:01 GMT

My 3-year-old daughter, Leila and I had a "date" on Friday night. This is the first time I have ever taken Leila to see a movie, so we went to see Horton Hears A Who. This is an excellent CGI adaptation of one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books! I had the book and it is now Leila's. She loves the book, but she was really into the movie. Every now and then she would ask something a little too loudly like, "What's happening to Horton?" or "Horton can't find the Mayor, Mommy!", and I would have to remind her to whisper.

It was such a great film, I absolutely loved it and was impressed by how they adapted the book to make it a feature-length film. The animation was awesome and the artwork was definitely "Seuss" and made you feel like you were in one of his stories. I love how they added to the story by adding more of a personal touch to the mayor's life in Whoville, and the bossy demeanor of the mother kangaroo. The humor was excellent, I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. And, even...

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mhew says "A community of artists that is fun and inspiring" about Illustration Friday

mhew — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:18:16 GMT

I stumbled upon the Illustration Friday website through a friend's blog. It took me a while to participate, but once I did I was so happy to have found such a wonderful new place to express myself artistically.

This website is dubbed" Illustration Friday" because every Friday, the site managers post a new "theme". The theme is usually only one or two words, just enough to spark a thought. Artists of all skill levels are then encouraged to create a work of art based on the theme of the week and share it on the website.

I am not always able to participate, due to my busy schedule. But, I enjoy browsing and being thoroughly inspired by the amazing artists who participate. Many of the artists are published illustrators of children's books - a field in which I hope to make my mark someday.

Since you are required to post your artwork on your own blog before sharing on the website, I have found the blogs of many talented artists and have gotten some helpful tips on my own work as well. ...

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