MyMemories Suite Review

** I've invited my little sister Charlee to join me on Fantastic Find.  This review is written by her.**

I am all for anything homemade. Take, for example, the extra things I do for my 8 month old daughter. Each week I make her diaper wipes as well as baby food from scratch. No jarred stuff around this place. But when it comes to scrapbooking, I make zero extra time to sit down and create beautiful pages of tedious craftiness. Maybe if I had a dedicated room or space for scrapbooking specifically, I might make the time to do it. Though, who seriously has an extra room in their house to dedicate to all things scrapbooking? Even if you do, are you really in there scrapbooking often? I dream of a scrapbooking room, but my life requires more of me. Cooking. Cleaning. For heavens sake, sleeping!

Playing around with the features of My Memories Suite, I realized how much easier it is to digital scrapbook vs. traditional scrapbook. You could lose several minutes per page by searching through your scrapbook supplies to find the exact paper or button you need, but searching for those things in digital format takes much less time. Additionally, with traditional scrapbooking, you have to make sure your page looks just right before gluing everything in place. Using digital scrapbooking software, you have the unique opportunity to play around with different paper and layouts before you ever have to "glue" anything in place.

Both traditional and digital scrapbooking can be very costly. Using My Memories Suite costs money to download to your computer, and if you want to buy more digital paper or embellishments, you need to spend more money still. I find it easier to spend money online, because I don’t have to swipe a card or hand over some cash. If money isn’t an issue, then this is an obvious advantage over running to the scrapbooking store to gather supplies.

After downloading My Memories Suite, I spent a few hours just navigating through different things. It has a small learning curve, but once you know where everything is, you can get a whole book done in a cinch. After spending some more time on the program, I was able to create a template for a photo book and a few pages for a calendar. I loved using the shadow feature for any embellishment I placed on the pages. It makes the pages look more like a traditional scrapbook with 3D elements. As for some of the truly digital features, I didn't find a use for them for my specific projects. You can add music, videos, or links to web pages to the albums if you are truly just going to leave the book or project in digital format. It would be compared to using Microsoft Powerpoint, and you could send the project in an email to friends and family.

So while traditional scrapbooking can take up a lot of space in your house, digital scrapbooking only takes up space on your computer. The way I see it, you will spend more money on traditional scrapbooking unless you plan to the very last page. One drawback I do see for digital scrapbooking is that you don't get the real homemade feel that a traditional scrapbook gives you. In the end, it is all a matter of preference, but for someone like me without extra space and money, digital scrapbooking with My Memories Suite makes a lot of sense.

 *Although I received this product free of charge to review, I have made up my own mind about it!☺

MyMemories Suite is a software for making scrapbook layouts, videos, photo books, cards, decorations and more! From their site: 'Print directly from the software to your home printer or export and take your project to your favorite printer. MyMemories Suite lets you export your projects as JPG, PNG, PDF or SVG.'  Come back tomorrow to enter to win MyMemories Suite v4 digital scrapbooking software.

Yummy YoKids Greek Yogurt (little giveaway)

winner: comment #6 DistractedMommy

Yogurt isn't a staple in our fridge but rather a treat.  My kids had never tried Greek yogurt so when I received free coupons for Stonyfield Organic YoKids Greek lowfat yogurt they were excited!  YoKids Greek yogurt has a thicker consistency than what my kids are used to but no mouth puckering tang like Greek yogurt is known for.  My older kids loved it at first spoonful but my littlest dude wouldn't even swallow one bite (more on that below).  Each 3.75 oz. container has 6 grams of protein and no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.  It's also made with low-fat organic milk.  I'd call that a delicious and nutritious treat, snack, or side to enjoy whenever!

YoKids Greek lowfat yogurt can be found in many grocery stores including Super Target!



I saw a fantastic solution for my finicky toddler on Pinterest that originated from Happy Rabbits blog.  I froze some little chubby hand sized YoKids Greek yogurt dots and he was instantly a fan!  Yummy, yummy to his little tummy! ☺
Yogurt dots are so easy to do:  simply use a spoon to plop little drops onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper, then freeze.  Good to know about 'em too: they freeze super quick and once you get them out to enjoy they melt even quicker.  A simple little snack for home but definitely not on-the-go. 



 * I received free coupons to tempt our taste buds.  My kids and I think this yogurt is fantastic!

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I have a little yummy YoKids giveaway!  

One winner will receive 2 coupons for YoKids products and 2 coupons for YoKids Greek!  

** To enter: check out the YoBaby & YoKids product lineup and leave ONE comment telling me what sounds yummy for your kids' tummies!  

(Leave an email in comment if it's not in your blogger profile.)

ends 10/4/12 at 10 p.m. MST

open to U.S. residents only

winner will be notified by email

Fizzy's Lunch Lab Review

I had never heard of Fizzy's Lunch Lab until I was sent Fizzy's Lunch Lab: Fresh Foods 101 to review.  It's a PBS KIDS GO! web-only series that educates on nutrition topics with crazy characters and strange, but 'cool', freezer food singers.  Professor Fizzy is Lunch Lab's host and Fast Food Freddy is Fizzy's nemesis.  Freezer Burn band is the 'Rock n' Roll Reinforcement' that sings about the webisodes nutrition lesson. 

Fizzy's Educational Goals:
1. To create a positive change in the current state of childhood nutrition.
2. To encourage daily physical activity and exercise.
3. To promote basic nutrition and proper portion-size, the importance of eating three meals a day (especially a good breakfast), and the value of family meal-time interactions.

source: PBS Parents


I watched most of the DVD with my kids one hot afternoon and even learned a thing or two.  Freddy's voice is annoying to me but my kids didn't seem to be bothered by it.  My 5 star rating: the webisodes are short (two stars), educate with entertainment (another star) and the DVD includes lots of printable nutritious recipes for kids to help make (two stars)! 

This show is aimed at kids age 6-8.  You can purchase Fizzy's Lunch Lab: Fresh Foods 101 at PBS SHOP.

* I was provided with a DVD.  This 5 star review is my own opinion.

Peep and the Big Wide World Review

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Peep and the Big Wide World--  I love that each episode has science or math for little minds, silly stuff to laugh at and funny characters that keep the attention of little eyes!

I was sent Peep and the Big Wide World DVDs to watch with my kids.  Our favorite episode in Peep and the Big Wide World: Bringing Spring is Stick With Me where "Peep goes in search of his favorite (lost) dandelion seed, and discovers that the world is full of sticky things."  We love to sing and even dance to the catchy theme song.  After each episode they show real kids having fun with the shows concept and it gets my kids' minds thinking of what they can do.

Here are a few more titles that will keep Peep viewers happy! ☺

Peep and the Big Wide World: Star Light, Star Bright

Peep and the Big Wide World: Finders Keepers

Peep and the Big Wide World: Seasons of Adventure

You can purchase Peep and the Big Wide World DVDs at PBS Shop!

* I was provided with Peep entertainment and the views expressed are my own.

PBS Nature: Raccoon Nation Review

NATURE is a PBS program that's celebrating it's 30th season so chances are you've probably watched Nature at least a few times.  Nature is fascinating and very educational and in an hour you can learn quite a bit!

NATURE: Raccoon Nation was released in March.  It follows a new raccoon family with GPS tracking and high-definition cameras.  Raccoons are omnivorous just like us and they adapt well so they're having no problems fitting into city life.  I was amazed to see a raccoon open a door and a tent.  Their smarts are making life easier for them but more difficult for the areas they're calling home.  There's segments that show what raccoons are up to in parts of North America, Japan, Germany and Canada (Toronto is the raccoon capital of the world)-- eye-opening and a little frightening.  I really enjoyed Raccoon Nation and have a new perspective on the raccoon species.   

My whole family agrees that PBS Nature documentaries are cool and it's screen time I have no problem with! 

More animal titles we like-- NATURE: Kangaroo Mob, NATURE: My Life as a Turkey, NATURE: The Animal House, NATURE: Fortress of the Bears

Nature documentary DVDs make great gifts and are available to purchase at shopPBS.org.

Stay 'tuned' for a Raccoon Nation giveaway with more than one winner!! ☺

* Product was provided for this review.  This post was written by me and these are my honest opinions.

Readeo and LMNO Peas

Readeo and LMNO Peas = Sharing a BookChat™ about round little veggies.

• The book LMNO Peas by Keith Baker is featured on the kid {media} spread in this month's Parenting Early Years magazine.  I often "judge a book by it's cover" and the illustrations on LMNO Peas is cute and fun!  After reading the little description it was on my to-read list!  It's brand new though so it isn't at my library.  Good things are worth waiting for.  Lucky for me I didn't have to wait too long because Readeo stepped in!

I found Readeo thanks to a review on ABC and 123.  I skipped on over immediately after reading the review because digital books are fun!  The first thing I noticed was that LMNO Peas was the Book of the Month and free for anyone to read!  That made my day!  I signed up as a guest and my son and I read LMNO Peas and loved it!  Little green peas being alphabet words-- astronauts, gigglers, parachuters, and volunteers!  There's a cute LITTLE ladybug on every page too!  It's only free to Readeo guests in April! 

• Readeo is a unique concept that helps people who are far away from each other to connect with video and share a book together!  BookChat™ allows you to "See, Hear, and Read" with a loved one!!  Now that's pure happiness for many: grandparents and grandkids, a military parent and kids, and any other person who wants to read to a child but has miles in-between them.

We are fortunate to live close to all our family.  I'm working on getting some close family and faraway friends to BookChat with us for fun!  Although Readeo's purpose is to connect with BookChat they also have a Read Solo feature.  For the last few days my kids and I have enjoyed reading digital books on Readeo.  The only problem I've had is with small text on a few books.  You can't zoom in or change the book size so I had to squint to read them.  My computer screen may be small compared to most.  (From a Readeo e-mail in July: "books and video in your BookChats now expand to appear as large as your screen will allow"!!)  Readeo is simple to figure out and I like the clean and uncluttered look of the site.

How to Read Solo: Sign in and click 'Read' in the top right by the blue book.  Minimize the page that pops up and click on 'Library' to browse the books.  When the cursor is over a book it shows a description and gives three options.  Click on 'Read' and restore the Read Solo page to read it!

You need to experience Readeo for yourself!  Readeo is kind enough to offer my readers a code for a free month trial!  Hooray for Readeo!!  Use code lovereadeowhen signing up for a whole month of free BookChatting or just reading digital books together!  Then be sure to come back later in May for some BIG Readeo happiness along with my experience with BookChat™!!

*I planned on letting my readers know about Readeo before I was offered a free 2 month trial and a code for my readers in exchange for a review.  The free product had no influence at all on my opinions.I think Readeo is fantastic!!