While doing some reading about introducing a child the various letters of the alphabet and on learning how to count, one of the suggestions offered was to incorporate the learning experience with a game or a fun-time activity.
I can clearly remember the very early stages of teaching my now three year old son Gabriel learn how to count. Using his fingers and other body parts, I ask him to count how many fingers, or how many ears, nose, legs and arms he has.
I also used real objects to make learning to count more fun and more hands-on: like the use of blocks to stack them while counting, or using colorful cardboard or wooden puzzles and incorporating a counting game while fitting the pieces together.
Speaking of wooden puzzles, one fun and colorful puzzle I used to introduce the numbers 1 to 10 to my boys Gabriel and Jaden is the Number Snake puzzle from ImagiPlay. This colorful puzzle not only teaches numbers, but also the basic colors red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple.
Made of plantation-grown rubberwood, which is an environmentally-friendly hardwood- all ImagiPlay wooden puzzles are hand-painted using child-safe paints. ImagiPlay Number Snake, retails for $17.99.
Check out the other ImagiPlay wooden puzzles from their Colorific Earth Puzzles today! Just go to: www.imagiplay.com.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Learning Numbers Can Be Fun with the Colorful Number Snake Wooden Puzzle from ImagiPlay
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The New Perfect "Must Have" Relaxation Music for Little Ones: Dream Baby CD by Merry Miller
When you're putting your baby to sleep and she just won't doze off, do you wish there's something you could use to help her sleep quicker and easier?
Introducing professional renowned harpist and TV personality Merry Miller's "Dream Baby" CD- the perfect new "must have" music CD that will make parents' lives easier and babies happier. Featuring some of the most-loved timeless classic baby lullabies: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Brahm's Lullaby, Rock-A-Bye Baby, Itsy Bitsy Spider, among others, Dream Baby CD is pure, heavenly harp music enhanced by soothing sound effects of singing birds, chirping crickets, flowing streams and more. My two little boys and I have listened to the Dream Baby CD many times- not only in the bedroom during nap or bedtime- but also in the car. The whole family (yes, including my husband) love the harp music collection in this CD so much that we've brought it with us to play in the car during family trips on several occassions.
"I created Dream Baby to bring my heartfelt love of harp music to children" says creator and CEO Merry Miller, "This project is the most rewarding thing I have ever done!".
Recent studies have proven that music notes played on the harp lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol and raises melatonin levels, promoting sleep and relaxation. Another study confirms that as little as 30 minutes of exposure to harp music increases IgQ antibody levels in the body by 20%, helping to relieve anxiety. This is why Dream Baby Harp Music CD is therapeutic.
"Dream Baby" has also received rave reviews by many celebrity parents such as Jessica Alba, Cameron Matheson, Kelly Ripa, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Brooke Burke and Trista Ryan. It has been featured on Good Morning America Now, the New York Daily News, iParenting.com, hotmomsclub.com, bigcitymoms.com and more.
Need I say more? See and hear the music for yourself!
Get a sampling of this soothing harp music for babies by downloading your first song for free at www.babymusictogo.com. Of course, if you want to get your own copy, just click HERE to purchase Dream Baby CD for only $12.
Monday, August 4, 2008
RuffleButts Bloomers (And A Giveaway Too!)
Have you seen those cute little ruffled bloomers for little girls yet?
They're from Ruffle Butts- a hip online baby store that carries fun, trendy, and colorful dresses, tops, and their trademarked RuffleButts baby bloomers, crawlers, and onesies. 
Hip Mama's Place received a RuffleButts Pink Bloomer to review. I gave it as a gift to my little one year old niece who just had her first birthday. Her mom was so amused her little girl looked so adorably cute and trendy in her pink, frilly, and fun bloomer that said, "Pink Princess". :)
The RuffleButts bloomer is perfect to use as a diaper or panty cover and
is available in a wide assortment of cool colors and bold patterns in classy woven cotton or super soft t-shirt knit. They're made of 100% cotton and are machine washable.
Another cool thing about these bloomers is that they can also be mixed and matched with the coordinating tops and dresses available at the RuffleButts online store.
*Win a RuffleButts bloomer in the size and color of your choice- pink, white, or fuchsia (sizes from infant to 2T), valued @$25! Leave a comment on this post by Monday, August 11th, 12MN, CST. One lucky winner will be picked using Random.org. Goodluck!
Friday, August 1, 2008
My Most Flattering Workout Pants: Fit Couture Rio Pants
One of my most recent achievements that I'm proud to tell everyone is getting back into fitness and signing up for a membership in my local gym.
Even more exciting, I received a new sexy workout outfit from Fit Couture- the Rio Pants and matching Daytona Top in Berry- to test out and review on Hip Mama's Place. :)
Can I say the Rio Pants are my most flattering workout pants to date? The flared leg, fitted roll over design to these yoga pants is very stylish and comfortable. I am a little bit self-conscious in the ab area and love the fold over waistband feature on these pants- fits comfortably and makes my waistline and tummy area look a lot flatter and firmer.
I've worn my Rio Pants many times in the last four weeks since I started my new gym workout routine and I love it! The fit, the style, the comfortability and the fabric (88% Supplex Nylon, 12% Lycra)- these pants work well with any kind of exercise- not only yoga. 
My Rio Pants came with the matching color (Berry) and fabric Daytona top- a racerback tank with fully-lined shelf bra and sporty side stripe. I love the simple scoop neck design and overall sexy look on this top.
By the way, Fit Couture products are made by women for women. They offer workout pants in a variety of lengths such as extra-long with inseam lengths of 33” and 35” as well as regular and shorter lengths. Their hand-crafted fitness clothing are made from superior Supplex performance fabrics that wick away the sweat, stretches when you stretch and still holds its shape.
Want to check out these workout outfits from Fit Couture? Just visit www.fitcouture.com and browse through the many stylish and high quality active wear they offer.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
My First Scrubs and Doodlebugz Crayola Crayon Keeper from Princess Linens
Princess Linens is a fabulous new online baby and toddler gift store that offers more than just gift items. Besides offering many personalized gifts for your own baby or toddler, you can also browse the store to find well-made, unique clothes, rompers and toys as gifts for the new baby in your family or as baby shower gifts.
One of Princess Linens' unique offering is their My First Scrubs personalized baby scrubs- so adorably cute!
Kathryn from Princess Linens sent my two little boys Gabriel and Jaden their own My First Scrubs to sample and review on Hip Mama's Place. My boys both had the lab green color scrubs that each said, "Dr. Gabriel" and "Dr. Jaden". I had both of them wear their scrubs for the first time to amuse their dad after coming home from work one day. My husband thought there were little doctors in the house when he saw both of his little boys. They were both looking incredibly cute in each of their tiny little scrubs! :)
We had our boys wear their My First Scrubs personalized scrubs on several occasions and I thought the fabrics on these scrubs are soft and comfortable enough to wear during play time. The hemming and personalized embroidery definitely shows how Princess Linens pay great attention to detail to offer this adorably cute and quality scrubs for little people.
Available from sizes 0 months to 4T, My First Scrubs come in three colors: Candystriper Pink, Lab Green, and "No More Blues" Blue. $28 each.
Princess Linens also offers Doodlebugz Crayola products for your little budding artists. Their cute and colorful crayon purses, crayon aprons, apron and hat sets, Doodlebags, and crayon keepers will surely inspire creativity in your little ones.
My boys love their new Doodlebugz Crayola crayon keeper (in green camo and red). Little Jaden is still learning to take the crayons out of the crayon keeper pockets and using the crayons. My three year old Gabriel, on the other hand, loves coloring and doodling in his coloring books with his new Crayola crayons. It's amazing (and amusing) how he gently takes the crayons out of each pocket and puts them back into it each time he's done using each crayon. So not only this product makes a wonderful way to organize my kid's crayons- it also teaches my kids to become organized with their own things- besides giving them the opportunity to get creative. :)
Crayon Keepers are available in 5 creative colors: Pink Striped, Solid Pink, Pink Camo, Green Camo, and Red. $14 each.
Both products are available for purchase at PrincessLinens.com. Enter coupon code HIPMAMASPLACE at checkout to take 15% off your purchase.
*Win a set of My First Scrubs of your choice from Princess Linens! Enter your comment on this post by Thursday, August 7th, at 12MN, CST and be entered to win. One comment per entrant only please. One winner will be picked using Random.org. Goodluck!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Simply Chic Hair Accessories for Little Girls
Seeing little baby girls adorned with cute and colorful hair bows and clippies always puts a happy smile on my face. I think because when I was a little girl myself, I loved wearing cute hair accessories. My mom used to make little bows and headbands herself and she would coordinate them with my dresses. She used to do this for me and my other four sisters when we were little.
Now that I'm an adult, I still love wearing headbands and clips. I sometimes wish I have a little girl of my own (I got two boys) so I can accessorize her hair with the chic and stylish little clippies and bows like the ones from Trinkets to Bows. (Well, who knows maybe in a few years I'll have a little girl of my own too). :)
By the way, if you happen to be here on Hip Mama's Place and you're shopping around for fashionable hair accessories for your little princess, check out the trendy hair items from Trinkets to Bows.
They got chic hair bows, headbands, clippies in many styles, colors, and designs. They even size their items so that you have something for your infant, toddler and bigger girls. Enter coupon code hipmama15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchases.
*Win a cute beanie or bowband of your choice! Leave a comment on this post by Thursday, August 7th at 12 MN< CST and be entered to win! One comment only per entrant please. Open to all US and Canada residents. One winner will be picked usin Random.org. 
I had the woderful opportunity to sample a few hair accessories from Trinkets to Bows. Since I didn't have a little girl of my own, I gave them away to my adorable little nieces. They all looked so lovely wearing their pretty little clippies from the Summer Time Fun Simply Chic Clippie Collection and beautful big girl bows (pictured).
Simply chic hair accessories for little girls, from $2.50 at TrinketstoBows.com. While you're there, check out their adorable little tutus, beanies, and cotton infant hats. Enter coupon code hipmama15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchases.
*Win it! TrinketstoBows is giving away a cute beanie or bowband of your choice! Leave a comment on this post by Thursday, August 7th at 12MN, CST. One comment per entrant only please. One winner will be picked using Random.org. Goodluck!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Would You Like To Guest Blog on Hip Mama's Place?
Time is low and the demand is high!
I am looking for a few mom bloggers/writers who like to review products to post on Hip Mama's Place.
If you are a mom who blogs and think you can write honest, well-written reviews, please send a sample of your writing or a recent blog entry that shows your writing style to: hipmamasplace.at.gmail.dot.com. Please send a direct link to your blog or blog entry in your email.
In your email, please include your blog address, your name, age, number of kids and their ages. This is to determine what products will fit your profile for future review assignments.
This is your chance to sample products for yourself and your family for free and have fun writing product reviews. Want to increase traffic to your blog or website? As a mom guest blogger, you will have an opportunity to advertise your blog free on Hip Mama's Place. Your product review post will have a direct link to your blog address.
Here are examples of guest blogger entries on Hip Mama's Place:
Bugaboo Announcement Cards
FURminator Pet Grooming Products
This is open to all mom bloggers who reside in the United States and Canada. Review assignment slots are limited so don't wait long.
Thank you for your interest in this opportunity .
Monday, July 28, 2008
NUI Kid Water
If you're having a hard time getting your child to drink water, how about fruit-flavored water for kids? How about NUI Kid Water?
Available in three flavors - Outrageous Orange, Purple Power (grape-flavored) and Raging Red (cherry), NUI Kid Water is made and sweetened only with real fruit juice and all the natural key ingredients that growing kids need: vitamins, minerals, calcium, fiber, green tea antioxidants, and electrolytes.
Gabriel, my three year old toddler, loves any kind of flavored juice (especially apple and orange) so I had no trouble making him drink NUI Kid Water in Outrageous Orange. Even though NUI is marketed as a healthy, flavored kid water, the taste and the packaging looks like juice so I had to lightly explain to Gabriel that NUI is actually water- only it has the taste of fruit juice. We tried all three flavors but the Outrageous Orange was his favorite!
I also like the fact that NUI Kid Water has half the sugar of apple juice and no high-fructose corn syrup. A 10 oz serving of NUI Kid Water only has 15 grams of sugar which is almost equal to a 10 oz serving of milk- which has 16 grams.
*Where to buy NUI Kid Water: Order online at NuiWater.com or find them at your local stores. $1.29-$1.59 each.
Keep Going and Glowing with Glow Mama
I've always been fascinated with the bright green, tiny black seed-speckled flesh of the kiwi fruit. I love its subtle sweet taste and especially love them with my tropical fresh fruit salad (yumm!).
Then I heard about Glow Mama- a new healthy, refreshing drink with the invigorating taste of kiwi. I was totally psyched when Hip Mama's Place was asked to try this exciting new healthy drink for mamas!
Check out the ingredients:
Filtered water,kiwi juice concentrate, white grape juice concentrate, cane juice concentrate, dietary fiber, calcium lactate, natural flavor, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), niacinamide (Vitamin B3), ferrous fumarate (iron), pyridoxine hydrochoride (Vitamin B6), cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), folic acid
Whether you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to keep up with a mobile toddler, Glow Mama is a great alternative to water and a healthy complement to your daily prenatal vitamin. It's a low calorie, natural juice drink with none of the bad stuff-artificial sweeteners, fat, caffeine, and preservatives. (Just what I need trying to cut off my caffeine addiction!)
What's so refreshing and unique about Glow Mama is its main ingredient: the kiwi fruit. Here's an interesting fact about this fascinating fruit: do you know that one tiny kiwi packs twice the vitamin C of an orange, twice the vitamin E of an avocado and 20% more potassium than a banana? That it has more fiber than a serving of bran flakes and is a good source of calcium, iron and folic acid? In fact, in a recent study by Dr Lachance of Rutgers University, kiwis were actually given the grand title of “the most nutrient dense fruit in the world”.
Taste-wise, Glow Mama is lightly sweet and subtle. So if your goal is to cut down on consuming too much sugar in your diet- including sweet drinks, Glow Mama is a perfect alternative. Or if you want to keep yourself hydrated but aren't too crazy about the taste of plain water, Glow Mama is the guilt-free replacement.
So to keep going and glowing, drink Glow Mama. It's the refreshing, pick me-up drink for busy mamas!
Purchase your Glow Mama drinks from the Glow Mama Online Store, or at Amazon.com where you can get FREE SHIPPING with the purchase of Glow Mama 24 pack.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Jishaku: A Fun "Magnetic" Game for Big Kids
Jishaku (Japanese for magnet) is a fun strategy game like chess or checkers. It's a unique game in that players use the power of magnets to play the game.
Each Jishaku game consists of 18 polished, irregularly-shaped, magnetic hematite stones packaged in a soft velveteen pouch and a novel foam insert where you tease the force fields to stay apart or jump together.
In playing Jishaku, it matters not only WHERE you place your stone but also HOW you place it. The magnets have a North and South pole and a magnetic field. The strategy is to study the effect your magnet has on the stones around it: It will attract some and repel others. The goal of this game is to control the magnets and not have it control you. The 'element of surprise' in this game is when the magnets jump out of position without warning and the fun begins when players jump out of their chairs and laugh from being very surprised at the magnets' sudden movements.
We played Jishaku on a recent family swimming pool party and it was an instant hit with everyone- young and old. We enjoyed playing the three different games it came with: "I'm Out", Roundup, and Elimination.
Designed to be played with two or more players ages 8 and up, Jishaku is overall an interesting and funny game to play, especially with groups.
For complete instructions, strategy tips, or to purchase the Jishaku game, go to the website at: www.playjishaku.com.
*Win It! One lucky winner will win a Jishaku Game, valued @ $19.95! Enter your comments on this post by Friday, August 1st at 12MN, CST and be entered to win. We will pick the winner using Random.org. Goodluck!
