Crayon Rocks Review & GIVEAWAY!!

It's that time of year. The time of schoolwork, homework, school projects. The time to begin the transition from mostly outside activities, to indoor ones, and, soon enough, the time to create holiday arts and crafts.

All of the activities mentioned above require the right "tools". There are countless products to choose from, and most any of which will actually function, but that hardly means they work well, and it certainly does not make them the best choice.

There are so many qualities that can make or break a product, especially a children's product. The most important thing I look for in a children's product is safety. It is crucial that I know what I am giving to my child, and that I can be confidant in the safety of the items I choose. The best way to know something is safe for children, is to know that it is 100% natural.

In addition to safety, it is also important that the item is easy to use, for children of any age and advancement. And of course, the item has to work well in general. Something that produces poor results, is useless.

When you start being so specific in what you desire from a product, the long, long list of choices quickly shrinks. In fact, so far I have only found one product that can fit all of the roles that I mention and meet all the requirements I have. That miracle product is Crayon Rocks.

If you have never heard of Crayon Rocks, you have been missing out on something really cool. Crayon Rocks are All Natural Soy Wax Crayons made only from USA grown soybeans and mineral pigments.

In addition to being All Natural, the super unique shape of these crayons makes them really special. These are not long sticks that are difficult to hold and easily broken by little hands, they are small contoured "rocks", that easily fir in the hands, feel comfortable and do not break.

There are no silly wrappers to get in the way or peel off, and the colors are actually recognizable easily without a wrapper(unlike most crayons where all the dark colors look the same without the wrapper, making peeled crayons a huge pain to use).

The colors are rich and vibrant, and the wax is so smooth. The colors glide onto the page without a waxy buildup. Have you ever had crayons that are so thinks and waxy that you can actually see and feel the texture on the page, and you could even scratch it back off if you wanted to?

That is a sign of poor quality, and it makes anything you use them on look terrible. Crayon Rocks are nothing like that. The color is always even and saturated, but the wax is very heavy or bumpy. They are like writing with a feather.

That is so great for kids. I cannot tell you how many times my kids(and even I) have broken crayons trying to get the color to be solid. Coloring or drawing should be fun. It should not feel like work or be frustrating because your equipment does not operate properly.

These can even be layered to create beautiful artwork. Other crayons simply will not work on top of one another well.

The true test of quality for me though, is how well they work for my kids. My son LOVES to color and draw, and he is very picky to make sure things come out how he sees them. He will demand a certain color if that is what he wants, and will not ever settle for "the next best thing".

The Crayon Rocks were perfect. He loved coloring with them, and I was amazed at how great they worked for him, especially since he was coloring on the carpet without anything flat underneath the page. Most crayons would not even work on a soft surface like that.

He was so proud of his artwork, it really warmed my heart to see him so happy, and his confidence was even boosted.

The only problem I have had is that my daughter wants to use the Crayon Rocks too, and my son does not want to share them. That must really mean that he loves them, because she would get his regular old crayons all the time and he never cared.

Crayon Rocks are perfect for any coloring mission. These small rocks are huge on performance. They even last so much longer than you would thing. Since they are not leaving a waxy buildup, you are not loosing a bunch of the crayon, making them last for ages. These are still the same size as they were when he got them, and he uses them every day.

Not only that, but instead of a crummy cardboard box that crushes the first time you use it, Crayon Rocks come it a super cute drawstring velvet pouch, so you always have a place to store them. And since you don't have to stuff them in like you do with a box(which breaks them when kids try it), they are easy to put away. My son puts them away on his own, which he never used to do.

Crayon Rocks come in 16 fabulous colors too, so no matter what you are looking for, you are covered. They are perfect for coloring books, drawing, projects and everything in between. School, home, travel, Crayon Rocks do it all.

Everyone that has seen the Crayon Rocks is obsessed with them, even my son's teacher. She raved about how they were perfect for her special needs students and that all the kids love them. That really says a lot.

I want each and everyone one of you to try these fabulous Crayon Rocks. While I cannot make that happen, I am going to give away a 16 rock bag to one very lucky winner. Enter below. Good luck.

*Although I received these at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own*

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Etnies Kids Review Plus Exclusive Discount!

Now that school is back in session, most people would think back to school shopping would be over with. In theory, that should be correct, but most parents know the initial shopping splurge is only the tip of the iceberg.

I don't know about you, but I cannot even say how many times I have bought everything on the super long back to school list only to find out, my son does not actually need half of the items, but he does need a multitude of other items that were not on the list.

And the extra shopping certainly does not end with supplies. Every kid I know always wants to go back to school in style so they need the best backpack, clothes, shoes etc. Then they do to school and the trends they thought were "in" have been replaced by new trends. Of course, they don't want to be the odd man out, and they "need" new clothes to fit in.


Thankfully, my son does not care what other kids wear, he likes what he likes and that is all that matters. I hope it stays that way. Unfortunately, no one can always tell how much they will like things after long-term use.

For example, we gt my son a pair of shoes for the start of school. He liked them, we liked them. They seemed to be god quality and stylish. The matched his clothes, everything seemed good. But the very first day of school, he came home with blisters.

There was plenty of room for him, so that was not the problem. I think it was just bad luck of how the shoes sat on his heel.

Obviously, I could not have him continue to wear those shoes, and I did not want to make the same mistake of getting not so good shoes again. I knew there was one brand that has never let me down. Etnies Kids are stylish and comfortable and, most importantly, my son loves them.

We pretty much always choose black shoes for my son. They stay looking cleaner and match everything better, plus, he loves black shoes. He loves ones that have a design too though, so they are not plain and boring. He fell in love with the Fader Kids Metal Mulisha. They are so awesome.

They come with black gray laces in addition to the black ones. I wanted to have them with both colors, but I don't know how to do that, so I just kept them black for now. 

I really love the designs on these shoes. They are so bold and trendy, but they are not too loud or flashy. Just enough to make them stand out. 

I love how the E(for Etnies) and the Skull are lighter so they stand out most, but you also have the black designs too to give it tons of dimension.

My son LOVES his Etnies Kids, and of course, I love that they are more comfortable for him and that they make him happy.

What I did not realize until recently is that Etnies Kids also makes clothing. I wish I had known before I bought all my son's school clothes, but as I mentioned, back to school shopping never ends when school starts. So of course, I had to get him an Enties Shirt as well.

I know that anything by Etnies would be very good quality, but I was still surprised at how awesome the shirt is.

The design is simple yet fun, the black makes it a neutral piece, but the white, red and yellow make it less "dark" and a bit more bold. 

I also love the number 22 and Etnies wording on the right sleeve and the the small E logo on the left sleeve.

It is little extras like that that take a design and turn it into something uniquely stylish.

I really love that this shirt it tag-less, which is very important for kids clothing. Especially in my son's case since he is autistic and has sensory issues. Tags really aggravate him. Another great way this shirt avoids bothering my son's sensory issues is by being lightweight and breathable. Most shirts(especially black shirts) are thick and heavy. This one is soft, free-moving and thin(nut not too thin). It is perfect for him.

Once again, the thing I most love about the shirt is how much my son loves it. After getting the shirt and shoes, he demanded to wear them to school the very next day. Seeing him so happy was s heartwarming. I am so glad I could get him something that he loves so much.

He wears his Enties Kids shoes every day, and there has been no trace of a blister. He loves them. They take a beating daily, too, and they still look perfect. I usually have to buy him multiple pairs of shoes to make it through the school year(3 pairs or more), but I think these may just last the whole year unless his feet get way bigger.

I could not be happier with these fabulous Etnies products. Not only do they function better than any other brand I have bought for my son, but they look a lot better too. 

If your back to school shopping did not end on the first day of school, and you are looking for great shoes or clothes for your child, then you definitely need to check out Enties Kids. 

To make it super easy, Etnies Kids has been kind enough to provide you all with coupon code for a whopping 25% off any Enties Kids Order(excluding sale items). Just enter code: ETNIESKIDS4 at checkout. Great shoes and clothes at a fabulous discount. You can't beat that.

*Although I received these at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own.*

Fobie Friends Review & GIVEAWAY!!

One of the most wonderful that almost all children share is their limitless imaginations. Children have a very unique world perspective which can make any situation more entertaining. Unfortunately though, with a wild imagination can can also come irrational fears.

Children often fear anything from heights to the dark to the water and everything in between. While of course there is no shame in being afraid at any age, but as parents, the last thing we want is for our children to summer from fear or anxiety over something that is perfectly safe and pleasant.

Explaining to children that the dark cannot hurt them and so on seems simple enough, but usually it is not very successful. The better approach, I have found, is to take their mind off the fear, and get them to focus on something else. Having something tangible to ease their fears works so much better.

Recently I discovered a company that clearly feels the same way. That is why they created a series of books and e-books focused on overcoming fears. Fobie Friends even offers plush toys that accompany the books, helping bring the characters to life.

I got two of the books for my kiddos, and they are really wonderful.  The books themselves very high quality. They have thick, glossy, vibrant pages with beautiful illustrations and large print, and a very durable hard cover. They are very nice.

Of course the real focus is the fun and comforting stories.

Hold Your Seahorses! Water is the Worst!

The story of a little girl who was afraid of the ocean and how a daydream and a seahorse helped her overcome her fears by helping her discover the beauty of the sea.

Did My Olw Just Growl(with matching plush owl)?

This story is about a little boy at bedtime who fears the dark and all the unknowns that come with it. He imagines his bead leaving his room and rolling into a dark forest where he meets a friendly owl who reminds him to use "Owl Eyes" to see in the dark.

Did My Owl Just Growl adds at the end of the story how the boy looked at the owl to remind him not to fear the dark. So the fact that this comes with a plush owl is great. Kids can do the same and be reminded not to fear the dark every time they look at their hoot-tastic new friend.

Both stories end with the line, "I don't fear my fears. My fears, they fear me." which is really wonderful. I love that message as it applied to either of these stories, or any situation in general.

Another wonderful thing about these books is that they rhyme. Rhyming stories are so much fun for kids, and they also help kids to remember them easier.

In addition to books and full size plushies, Fobie Friends also come in adorable key chain sized plushies that can go everywhere your child goes.

Although my son is not afraid of the dark or the water, he still loves these stories and plush friends. I really love the message of overcoming fears, because with his autism he does have many fears that he would benefit form overcoming(like most foods, loud noises, etc).

M daughter loves these as well, and though she does not fully understand the message of the stories yet, she already has a few fears of her own I am hoping she can conquer. These books will be so helpful for her as she grows.

Fobie Friends books and plush friends(and t shirts, which they also sell) would make a great gift for any child weather for a special occasion or just because.

That is why Fobie Friends and I are giving away "Fobie Packs" to 2 lucky winners.

Pack One:

Did My Owl Just Growl? book 

Fobie Owl Friend 

Fobie T-Shirt and Keychain 

Pack Two:

Climb the Monkey Bars? That's Bananas! book 

Foibe Gorilla Friend 

Fobie T-Shirt and Gorilla Keychain 

Enter blow for your chance to win. Good luck.

*Although I received these at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own.*

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Crocodile Isle Inflatable Water Park GIVEAWAY!!

Hopefully you all remember me doing 2 awesome giveaways for Blast Zone earlier in the year. My kiddos LOVE our Blast Zone products, and so do I. So when my friend Jessica from Jess Talks Family Fun was hosting a giveaway for a Crocodile Isle Inflatable Water Park from Blast Zone, I just had to share it with you.

This is a huge prize. I do not have this Blast Zone item yet, but boy do I want it(and so does my son after seeing it). Whoever wins this is going to have super happy kiddos. Check out Jessica's review, and enter below for your chance to win.

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For any of my readers that live in Florida, you know this summer was a HOT one!  So i had to find something for my kids and their friends to do to keep cool all summer! I came across a company called Blast Zone and was very impressed with the selection of slides and bounce houses they had to choose from. Since i wanted something to keep them cool i picked Crocodile isle inflatable water park and slide! My 6 Year old and her friend, who is also our neighbor were both very excited for this to come! The anticipation was the worst everyday she would ask if it was coming…FINALLY… It was here! and even though the neighbor was out of town she could not wait to get her suit on and get it filled up to play!


Let me just say that this is a Very well made slide. I have rented slides from places for birthday parties in the past and this is just as nice! They have had hours of fun on this slide and even my 13-year-old and her friends have gotten on it a few times! My 6-year-old even got my husband to go down the slide… (that was hilarious) lol




Ever our dog bugsy wanted in on the fun! He loves water so he could not wait to jump in with my 6-year-old! They have had so much fun together all summer , Since we live in Florida i am sure we will be putting up the slide through October since it does not usually get cold here until the last few months so we still have lots of time to have loads of fun on our blast zone slide! Blast zone also has lots of other slides and bounce houses to you can visit them at BlastZone.com and check out all the neat things they have you can also find them on Facebook ! I will definitely be recommending this company to family and friends so their kids can have as much fun as mine have all summer!

BUT! Here is the AWESOME part….I am doing a giveaway for one of these exact same slides Value over 600$!!! So if you would like to enter the link is below! And if you are not my lucky winner blast zone will offer any of my readers 10% any slide or bounce house from their site! Good luck everyone! a Rafflecopter giveaway

text-UR Foam Review

I am always looking for fun activities for my kids. I like things that help my son disconnect from the computer and connect more to the real world. I love items that are hands on.

I really love things that allow my kids to be creative, but it is also important that they be safe and not destroy the house, so traditional crafts(using scissors, glue, paint, etc) tend to not be such a smooth operation.

Thankfully, I found something that embodies everything I look for in my kids' activities. text-Ur Foam is so cool.

There are so many varieties. From regular 3D textured foam, which comes in 6 bright colors and 6 distinct textures, to super fun kits(picture frames, animals and more).

My kids love these so much. I totally see why. Even I had a blast making super cute 3D foam creations. Our favorites were the Bee and the Turtle kits. They are just too adorable.

I loved that I had an animal for each kiddo, otherwise they would have fought(more than they did). I helped my little girl make the bee.

My son pretty much made the turtle without any help.

I love that it is so easy that he can do it himself. He was so proud that he made it on his own.

The reason they are so easy is because there are clear picture instructions, and everything is pre-cut and there are even pre-cut peel and stick(double sided) foam squares, space-urs, to stick everything together. Their thickness along with layering the foam is what makes the design pop. It is really unique.

I love that this is something that my son can do on his own if he wants, but is also great for us to do together as a family. Family bonding is so important, so anything that allows us to be still and quite is the perfect activity to talk. And the creative nature allows us to show one another our ideas and personal style.

Not only that, but the fabulous things you create can be on display in your home to show off your unique style. They also make great gifts for teachers, grandparents, etc. Kids love to give away pictures and other craft projects, text-UR Foam is perfect for that.

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about the holidays, but text-Ur Foam would make a fabulous stocking stuffer or modest gift. Perfect for any child on your list. Everyone needs ideas for friends' kids, children's classmates, etc. text-UR Foam would be a huge hit.

I love this stuff. It is so great to have a safe and quite activity that my kids really love.

text-UR Foam is available at Michaels, Joann's, Meijer, and A.C. Moore and is super affordable. It is priced for only $2.99-$8.99, so it is perfect for big fun on a small budget.

*Although I received this at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own*

Frends Headphones Review & GIVEAWAY!!!

As you all probably know, my son's birthday recently passed. My little boy is six years old. I cannot believe how quickly he is growing up.

I know that all parents are shocked at how fast their children grow up, but for me, I think it was especially surprising. My son has autism, so in many areas, it had taken him longer to mature. So in my eyes, he had been my "baby" even more than he should have been.

Not that I see his autism as a flaw. He just took a little longer to blossom in some areas. Speech for example, he did not speak a word until after he turned three. He knew his alphabet and nubmers by sight before he could say them. He could use blocks or magnet letters to put them in order(without the slightest hesitation or doubt). He could even write most of them before he could say them.

Once I realized that autism was the underlying cause of this(instead if him not wanting to like everyone used to tell me), it was so much easier for me to work with him, and we started him in preschool. From there, his progress was mind blowing.

I still saw him as my baby though, and he still had many struggles with his language skills although he could read, write and speak fine, he had trouble with expressing feelings(naturally without prompting) or having a back and forth conversation(mostly yes, no or one word answers).

Within the last year, he has began speaking in full sentences, communicating much more freely and genuinely. His affect has even become more developed. Previously, he would often sound like he was acting(poorly) when he said things. It seemed as if he was repeating something he did not really mean. Now it seems that it really comes from his soul, and that amazes me.

At the end of last school year, he teacher raved about his nearly perfect ability in math, his excellence in reading, spelling, and memorizing. His huge development in reading comprehension and sequencing. He is on or above grade level in every area.

I have certainly noticed these huge strides.

Of course, he will always be my baby, but this year is when it really hit me that he is growing up, and that was great and terrible at the same time. One one hand, I am so so proud of my little man for all the progress he continues to make every single day. On the other hand, I am sad that he is growing up and I realize it won't be long before he doesn't need me anymore.

So while his birthday was a bittersweet occasion for me, I still wanted to make it incredible for him. This was the first year that he was completely aware of and looking forward to his birthday. He had been talking about it form months before it arrived, He was even picking out the gifts that he wanted.

That was great because in the past, we really never knew exactly what he wanted. I mean there were many things that we knew he would like, but we could not be sure what he was actually wishing for, and he never told us.

This year he had a pretty good list. He love the computer, it is his favorite activity, and he is a genius on it. He is better than I am by a mile. He loves to "shop" online. He looks around and adds he things he wants to the cart, and then shows them to me.

Most of his picks were movies(Dora, Max & Ruby, etc.) that he wanted. There was one thing though that he just kept showing me. Ir was certainly a more "grown up" gift. I could certainly see why he loved it. It was a gift that even I would love. I just was not sure how much he really wanted it.

What is this incredible gift? I am sure from the title you deduced that it is Frends Headphones. They were not just any headphones, they were Taylor Headphones in Gold/White. He calls the "Gold Treasure", and I have to agree that is exactly what they are.

In fact, I loved them so much that I knew I needed a pair also. I reached out to Frends in hopes of doing a review of their amazing Taylor Headphones, and here we are. Frends is such a wonderful and caring company. Their pride for their products is so obvious, and the quality is unparalleled.

I got the Taylor Gold/White for my little birthday boy, and the Rose Gold/White for myself. Both pairs are so Exquisite.

Even the boxes are gorgeous, and premium quality too. They have a magnetized closure, so they open and close easily, and the headphones are beautifully displayed inside.

And they look even more dazzling out of the box. My son said it perfectly, they really are like a treasure.

And they are not only stylish, but they are incredibly functional. Even more so than I expected.

They can be folded, so you could wear them around your neck with the ear pieces flipped outward like speakers.

They even fold down so far as to fit in the super fabulous carrying case that comes with them.

These feature premium 40mm drivers, so the sound quality is flawless. The sound is so clear and robust, and since they are over ear, the help to reduce the noise around you, even though they are not intended as noise canceling.

Not only does the over ear style make these incredible comfortable to wear(even for long periods), but the Frends Taylor Headphones take it a step further with the added comfort of memory foam ear cushions. My ears are sensitive to most headphones, but these feel so luxurious.

The comfort is very important, because my son has sensory issues, and as much as he loved these headphones in the pictures, I worried about him not being comfortable in them.

These even have a volume control and a mic built into the cord, making them great fro hands free phone calls or adjusting volume without fussing with your device.

They also have a revolutionary fabric cord. This cord easily moves with you and does not kink or fray. It is so flexible and durable. I can tell that this cord will withstand almost anything. I love that, it is another VERY important feature for my(and especially my son).

Of course, the style is just as wonderful as the rest of the features. The genuine leather and handcrafted metal make all the difference. These are so elegant. Although I am certainly not a sophisticated-looking person, I feel glamorous whenever I wear these(even when I actually look a mess).

I have received so many compliments on these. They are jewelry inspired, and it really shows. They are the universal accessory. Bring them anywhere to add a dash of fare to any outfit, like the perfect handbag, only better.

Of course, me liking these is really not that important. My son's opinion is what I really care about. It was no surprise that he adores them too.

He was so happy as soon as he got them. He put them on with a huge smile. They were not even connected to anything.

As I already mentioned, he LOVES the computer, so that is the first place that he put them to the test.

He thought it was the best thing ever. Although he did not appreciate me taking his picture while he was trying to play.

He loves them so much more than I ever thought he would. He now uses them every single time he s on the computer. Not only am I glad that he loves them so much, I am actually glad he is using headphones for the computer too.

I have an almost 2 year old daughter, who goes to bed before her brother, and sometimes he would turn the speakers up too loud which would keep her up or wake her up. Now, no one can here it except him, and he won't turn it too loud(for him) since it is right on his ears.

They must be comfortable to him as they are for me or he would never wear them. Everything is about comfort for him. And though he loves the style, he would never wear them solely for that.

The fabric cord really is the best feature for him too. One of his little quirks is chewing things. He chews his hair, his fingers, and especially wires. We had to get a wireless mouse and keyboard for that very reason. Which is why I was hesitant to get him headphones.

While I am not saying that anyone should and I stop him every time I see him do it, he has chewed this cord(more than once) and it looks brand new. There are no teeth marks, dents, holes or any signs of chewing at all. This cord is a God send. Any other cord would have been destroyed by now for sure.

He has used them for everything with a headphone jack. His Leappad, Tablet and even the TV. He would probably sleep in them if I let him.

I cannot speak highly enough to truly describe how wonderful Frends Taylor Headphones are. They are stylish, durable, and elite performing, but most of all, they make my son happy, and that is priceless.They are easily his favorite gift ever and most prized possession(aside form the computer).

If you want a fabulous gift, a gorgeous statement piece a or just an elite pair of headphones, Frends Taylor Over Ear Headphones are perfect.

Frends has other stunning styles too, like the incredible Layla On Ear Headphones. In fact, Frends and I are giving away a pair of the Layla Heaphones in Silver/Black($149 RV). They are so sleek. The Silver/Black color scheme makes them even more ideal for men as well as women.

If you want the chance to win these incredible headphones, enter below. Good luck!

*Although I received these at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own*
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