With numerous homeschooling websites these days, it’s actually pretty difficult to weed through them all, focusing on the best of the  best.  In my crazy long search for educational resources for my eldest (4.5 years old) I happened to have the opportunity to try Reading Kingdom…and boy am I glad I did! 

Reading Kingdom is is an award-winning online program that teaches children ages 4-10 to read and write to a 3rd grade level. Based on the work of Dr. Marion Blank (from Columbia University, one of the world’s top experts on reading and language development), it is a program you surely don’t want to miss out on.

My 4.5 year old has a lot of fun using the program. And unlike many traditional (cookie cutter) educational-based learning programs, as a parent I am repeatedly reminded not to help him out. This is so the program can assess his own strengths and then his work will be customized to his specific needs. As a mom, I really love that! 

The program is quite engaging for my son, and he will often ask me to let him ‘play’ (complete more lessons) longer than he needs to. Obviously that is saying a lot! ;)

One feature that I also love is that I receive progress emails from the program, letting me know how my son is doing. As a parent that information is essential in his learning, and I certainly appreciate it! 

While we have taken some time this past month to “un-school” him, I am looking forward to jumping back into the program in the fall.  In fact, I can’t wait! 

Their is a membership fee to use the program, but I promise you it is worth it if you are in search of an engaging, quality reading program for your child. At just $9.99/month, I am so excited about Reading Kingdom and know that you too will love it. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to their website and start your free 30 day trial. You and your child will be grateful you did. Don’t waste your time on cookie-cutter programs that aren’t customized to your child’s needs. Happy learning! 

Want to learn more about Reading Kingdom? Check out their website and connect with Reading Kingdom on Facebook and Twitter too!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Filed under: Reviews

I love natural teething remedies, and when you couple natural with something that is also fashionable, well I’m sold. Lately my littlest dude (6 months old) has been teething like crazy! Between his excessive drooling and his constant chewing, I knew he needed something more than just my knuckle to gnaw on. That’s why I am so happy to tell you all about Gumigem – a chewable necklace that I can wear and he can go to town on!

GumiGem

Gumigem recently sent me one of their beautiful Bubba bead necklaces ($29.95) to review.  At first glance I knew we would be friends – not only is it super adorable, but Gumigem’s products are all BPA, PVC, Lead, Latex and Phthalate free. Clearly I was in love from the start…

Here are a few up close pictures that help show you how every bead is individually knotted and each necklace has a safe break-away clasp.  

Super cute, super safe! 

Not only is my little man getting the relief he needs from chewing, but I know that he is also doing it safely.  The best part is that each bead is almost 3/4 of an inch, so there is a lot of surface area to gnaw on! Long gone are the days when a mom had to worry about their baby hurting themselves on her jewelry!  

Here is another picture, showing how stylish this teething necklace is, and how it can go with any one of my outfits!  I sure love versatility :) 

So in a nutshell – my son loves chewing on it & I love wearing it – making it definitely ‘Organic Mama’ approved! 

Save 10% on all orders placed before 8/9/13 using my exclusive discount code: happygumi10 :)

Would you like to know more about Gumigem? Check out their website and visit them on facebook and twitter! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Filed under: Reviews

Summer is here!! Can you believe it? Finally! time to pack up the kids, head to the park, the splash pad, the cottage, the lake, the pool…okay, okay, you get the point. It’s finally hot outside and that means we can enjoy the great outdoors like there’s no tomorrow! The only problem is that we need to be protected – from what you ask? Well, from the sun, of course!

With all the trillion sunscreens out there, how do we know what works? And more importantly, which ones are safe?! Well luckily there are very safe sunscreens on the market – the trick is just finding them :) Personally, I have had such amazing luck when it comes to finding awesome natural sunscreens. Most recently, I even had the opportunity to test out Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 by Ma Mi Skin Care. I would like to tell you my thoughts on the product – and even offer a GIVEAWAY! Keep on reading… ;)

Before I start, I just want to say that we know that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m, making it even more important to slather on the sunscreen during those time periods. Of course, we have all heard by now that it is perfectly healthy to get about 15 minutes of sun exposure per day (sans sunscreen) but that’s about all. So make sure that you always have sunscreen on hand! I love that I can apply Ma Mi’s mineral sunscreen anytime, anywhere because the handy tube fits perfectly in my purse and diaper bag. I am a huge believer in wearing sunscreen (especially on our faces) so I don’t like being unprepared!   

Ma Mi’s Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen is awesome! With all natural ingredients and no fillers, this is a high-quality and trusted sunscreen that I absolutely recommend for faces! And it lasts such a long time because just a tiny dab goes a very long way, which is awesome because I’m outside with the three little munchkins A LOT and always wear sunscreen on my face! :)

Okay, let’s talk more about the specifics now. Having a light, airy scent, it goes on a pale pink colour and rubs in completely clear, which I’m thrilled about! There’s nothing less attractive than huge white sunscreen streaks all over our faces! :p I am also a huge fan of the fact that it blocks BOTH UV-A and UV-B rays and does not contain Benzophenone, making it safe to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Check your current sunscreens because they are definitely not all created equal – Ma Mi is one step ahead, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Check it out…

Benefits of Ma Mi’s Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen:

• Anti-UV-A, UV-B and Infrared
• Anti-MMP (sun-induced collagen damage)
• Paraben-free, Fragrance-free, PABA-free, Non-comedogenic
• Potent antioxidant, anti-pollution and strong anti-inflammatory
• For all skin types, including sensitive or Rosacea-prone skin

I love feeling good about what I put on my face, especially knowing that harmful chemicals can easily leech into our bodies through our skin! I trust Ma Mi SKIN CARE and am happy to announce that one lucky Organic Mama winner will be receiving a tube of their very own Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen {$22 value} to use and love this summer! All you need to do is enter below! Good luck – and keep those beautiful faces protected this summer! :)

Want to know more? Find Ma Mi Skin Care on Facebook and visit their website!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tags: face, giveaway, ma mi, mineral sunscreen, natural sunscreen, skin care
Filed under: Current Giveaways, Reviews

As most of you know, I have a huge love for homeschooling. Making the choice to send our 4 year old to half day kindergarten this past year was a tricky (okay, heartbreaking) decision for the hubster and I, but we did it based on the social/emotional development that school was able to expose him to. Truthfully, if I hadn’t been pregnant with our 3rd baby, I probably wouldn’t have even enrolled him … but nonetheless it made the most sense at the time.

Since my high-risk pregnancy was also coupled with moving into our new home, all of my homeschool resources were thrown placed gently into moving bins – and for the most part, everything has stayed that way…until now. For anyone keeping notes, it’s been 1 year since we moved, yikes! However, with summer break here, homeschooling is back on again. The only problem is that our homeschool room has now been turned into a beautiful nursery. So the kitchen will just have to do – although the Hubster doesn’t want everything thrown on the counter. So I needed a better storage solution. Luckily I found exactly what I need – Rubbermaid® All Access™ Organizers!

We all know that traditional bins are great for storing unused/seasonal items, but I need something better for my homeschool items. I need to be able to see into them quickly and actually access what I’m searching for in a second. For those reasons alone, the Rubbermaid All Access organizers are perfect for my family, because they have a clear, drop down door which allows us to retrieve exactly what we want, when we want it – without needing to dig down below to find what I’m looking for! Finally, I can grab what I need – anytime I need it, even when they are stacked on top one another! Now that’s pretty awesome, right?! I sure think so! No more procrastinating to get the things I need just because I don’t want to throw out my back unstacking heavy containers!

I’m sure you can imagine all the wonderful uses for these containers, other than homeschooling items. For instance – they would make an excellent storage area in the garage for balls, skipping ropes, sidewalk chalk and toys. Or even better – set them up under a desk for a convenient organizer of all your papers, CDs and even stationary needs! The possibilities really are endless, but I have to say the most unique idea I recently came across was to use it as a gecko home, with a little bit of modification of course! ;)

While I am using 2 medium organizers for my day-to-day homeschool supplies, I am also using 2 more for my craft supplies! I just need to print off some pretty pages to place in the front windows of each bin. I’m definitely thinking some scrapbook paper and my label maker are going to be put to use ;) Don’t you just love getting more organized?! I am SO excited about these!! 

The Nitty-Gritty!

• The Rubbermaid 12-Gallon (56-Quart) All Access Organizers are Great for organizing garages, closets, children’s toys, craft rooms, offices, dorm rooms and more
• Accessible storage
• Ability to retrieve contents without unstacking
• Modular system for organizing frequently used items

Available in 3 sizes -

• Small –  19.5″ x 17.5″ x 11.6″  {$14.99}
• Medium – 19.5″ x 17.5″ x 15.1″ {$16.99}
• Large – 22″ x 17.5″ x 15.1″ {$19.99}  

Available at Walmart and The Home Depot, the All Access Organizers are a fantastic storage solution for the things you want access to in a flash. If I had the opportunity to add or change any features, I would love to see handles on the side because I would like to be able to easily carry the containers from room to room. I would also love to see them offered in more neutral colours, so they can blend into any room’s decor. Overall, I give the All Access Organizers 2 thumbs up!

Win It!

Rubbermaid wants to help you get organized, too! They are offering one lucky Organic Mama reader the chance of winning their very own set of All Access organizers – a $70 Value! To enter, simply fill out the easy rafflecopter form below.  Open to Canadian residents. Good luck!

Psst – check out the Rubbermaid All Access Contest on their Facebook page for lots of great prizes, too! :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tags: All Access Organizers, canada, giveaway, review, Rubbermaid
Filed under: Current Giveaways, Reviews

Psst. I have a secret-  I really love food – and here is what I have been craving lately: 

Don’t the look amazing? They’re my homemade gluten free fried cheese sticks. Here’s the recipe, they are SO simple to make!

Ingredients:

Cooking Oil (I used canola), enough to cover 1 inch of your cooking pot 

FROZEN Cheese Sticks  (I cut ‘real’ cheese (cheddar, actually, but obviously mozzarella would be ideal, too) in to small sticks but you can also use 8 string cheese sticks too, cut in half.

2 eggs, beaten well in a bowl 

1 cup gluten free chicken coating (or breadcrumbs if you aren’t gluten-free)

Pizza sauce 

Method:

1. Using tongs, coat each piece of cheese with the beaten eggs   

2. Place each piece of cheese in a small container of your coating mix, one at a time, gently ‘shaking’ the container back and forth to ensure even coverage 

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2

 4. Once all the cheese has been coated, gently place them into a hot pot of hot oil to cook. It will take roughly 30-60 seconds in total to cook them. Be careful not to burn them, and ensure that they are not overcooked (cheese will start to ‘leak’ out).

5.  Remove them from the oil and place on a plate of paper towels to absorb the extra oil 

6. Serve with pizza sauce and enjoy! 

Tags: apps, Cheese Sticks, gluten free, homemade, mozzarella sticks, recipe
Filed under: Illustrated Expressions, Recipes