VTech Baby Amaze Learn to Talk & Read Baby Doll Review

**This post is sponsored by VTech. We received this fun toy to play with and try out at no cost to us. Even though the toy were free, all opinions are my own and I don't write about products that we don't love and wouldn't use ourself. Enjoy!**

At 2 1/2 years old, Ginny has definitely entered the baby doll phase. She absolutely loves anything and everything baby doll, so when VTech asked if we'd be interested in reviewing the Baby Amaze doll, I jumped all over it. 

Since bringing home the box a few weeks ago, this baby doll has become Ginny's favorite. Anytime she's home (toys don't go in the car or to daycare with them), Ginny's Baby Amaze has been at her side - strolling around the house, playing games, going to bed with her, etc. 

What does Baby Amaze do?

Baby Amaze is an interactive talking baby doll that actually plays and "grows" with your child. Crazy, right? It really does! When you begin playing with Baby Amaze, she says fewer, simpler words and requests. As your child interacts and talks to Baby Amaze, she learns more words and her language goes from "milk" to "milk please Mommy!" For instance, if Baby Amaze asks for milk and you give her a bottle, she makes sucking noises until she's done, then a little burp noise. It's quite adorable to watch Ginny interact with her so lovingly. 

There are four modes of play that can be activated by easy buttons on her outfit: 

• Caring - where baby asks for milk, her pacifier, to go to sleep, etc.
• Talk with Me - where you can play games and teach baby words, which she repeats to back. 
• Reading - baby can read to you or you can read to baby from one of three included books.
• Music Time - baby coos and plays 4 sing along songs and 8 melodies

A button on the back (inside the battery compartment) allows you to reset Baby Amaze back to "newborn" mode and play all over again. I'm not sure how long it takes to get Baby Amaze to it's full potential vocabulary wise - it's kind of fluid and just happens over time.

Our Favorite Features

My favorite part of this doll is how interactive she is. In just a few short weeks, Ginny's interest in role playing and imaginative play has skyrocketed and I truly believe Baby Amaze is partly to thank. The baby care mode, especially, sets the stage for Ginny to care for baby, even running to the play kitchen to "refill her bottle" when it's empty or rocking her to sleep when baby says she is tired. Ginny has transferred these interactions to non-speaking baby dolls, expanding her pretend play. 

The other unique thing that we really enjoy is the vocabulary building and games. The pink button on baby's bib makes her ask questions like, "what color is your shirt?" "what does a dog say?" Answering "w" questions helps to build vocabulary and other language skills. 

What We'd Change

Truthfully, the only thing I'd change would be to add an "off" button. Baby will talk until the automatic shut off kicks in (after a few minutes of no play), but there are times, like bedtime, where I wish I could shut her off on command. Otherwise, this is a solid, enjoyable toy!

The Verdict

Overall, we really love this toy. I was a little leery at first because of the stereotypical creepy baby doll voice, but seeing Ginny's absolute love for her cuddly, pink, chatty dolly self melts my heart. I'm so glad we were able to experience Baby Amaze Learn to Talk and Read Baby Doll. She retails for only $29.99, which is a pleasant surprise considering how highly interactive it is. I have a feeling this, along with the other Baby Amaze toys, is going to be one of those big toys this year, so don't be surprised if your kids know about it before you did! 

The Baby Amaze line of products is available at Toy R Us stores nationwide and at ToysRUs.com. VTech has been generous enough, however, to provide one of my lucky readers with a Baby Amaze doll of their own! Check out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win! Thank you, VTech!

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I Drank the Tula Kool Aid

Let's talk about that unexpected time that your 2 1/2 year old suddenly wants to be worn, but all you have is a long outgrown Moby and a nearly outgrown Ergo. That was me a few weeks ago. How can I turn her down? Of course I'll snuggle you, little one! As a bonus, you can't wreck the joint when we go shopping if you're on my back!

Problem was, the Ergo worked, but not for long. Ginny's not a big kid by any means, but just lanky enough to hang out of the top and sides in way that made it uncomfortable for her after a while.

Well, after selling all of our cloth diapers, I needed a new obsession anyway. Enter, the Tula.

So, what is a Tula? A Tula is a baby carrier. That's right, I SAID IT. It's just a baby carrier. You put a baby in it and carry them. I say this because there is an entire culture and society attached to said brand of baby carrier that is both intriguing and overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, this is by far the most comfortable carrier I've ever worn, but the drama and crazy that comes along with stalking, buying, selling, and trading these things is enough to send someone to the looney bin.

I took the easy way, I think. I jumped on a Buy Sell Trade board, picked one I liked, PMed the seller, sent them money, and got the Tula in the mail. Easy right? I thought so. And I loooooove it.

She loves it to, I promise. I may have woken her up from a nap to try it on when it came in the mail...

I get it, they're pretty, they're comfy, and goodness knows the company tries their hardest to play on the scarcity effect with regard to prints. They slap "limited edition" on something and the crazy goes up a few notches! Market value on some of the handmade woven versions are nearly a mortgage payment and no, that is not an exaggeration.

So we had a Tula. Then, because I didn't remove myself from the BST group, we got...another Tula. I know, I know - I have one child of carrying age/size. Why do I need two? Truthfully, I keep one in the house and one in the car. Could I live with one? Heck, I could live with none, but there is something about them that makes me want them all.

This is the Tula I fell in love with. Ya know, after the first Tula I fell in love with. This, is Rainbow Gems.

I know, I talk about it like it's a person or something. But seriously, look at this thing. And look at that face! This is Ginny's "rainbow carry" and she asks for it by name. The hood even has dino spikes! It also came with a lot of sleepy dust, meaning I can grocery shop during nap time without summoning demons.

We have the toddler size for Ginny, which goes up to 50lbs! The standard version is good for itty bitties up to toddlers about 40lbs. Ginny could technically fit in a standard, but since she fits in a toddler, why not size up. I could even carry Charlie if he wasn't all torso. Kid can nearly see over my head when he's on my back! In a pinch, I'd totally carry him though. Despite being about 43lbs, his weight was very well distributed across my waist and shoulders making him feel surprisingly light.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I had a third one, but I sold it! I'm not addicted. ::twitch::

At retail, the canvas carriers run between $160 and $190, depending on print and what not. Don't even ask about market value, but it's more than that. While it's not easy to get one direct from a store or site, there are a lot for sale at or below retail.

Honestly, since they hold their value, I'm not worried about the cost; when we're done, I'll be able to resell them at or above what I paid. It's not a sale, it's an investment. Yes, I really tell myself that crap.

If you're in the market for a new carrier, I highly recommend the Tula. It's well made, quality materials, soft and genuinely comfortable. If you're skiddish about spending that much money without trying one on, check if your area has a baby wearing group or chapter of Babywearing International. Many of those groups have carriers you can try on or even borrow to see if you like them before laying out the money.

In the meantime, I'll be over here, wearing my happy kiddo on the go (while getting strange looks and comments from strangers...but that's an entirely different blog post).

VTech Learning Toys Review & Giveaway!

**This post is sponsored by VTech. We received these fun toys to play with and try out at no cost to us. Even though the toys were free, all opinions are my own and I don't write about products that we don't love and wouldn't use ourself. Enjoy!**

My little review team and I had so much fun reviewing the VTech Go! Go! Smart Animals Forest play set that we're back for more VTech fun. Just in time for holiday wish list season, VTech sent us an incredible set of four learning toys; The Chomp and Count Dino, Sit-to-Stand Smart Cruiser, Smart Shots Sports Center, and the Grow-Along Music Center. 

When the box arrived, the kids knew there had to be something good inside and it took quite a bit of bribing just to get a picture before we tore into the boxes!

Chomp and Count Dino

Assembly: None
Batteries: 2 AA
Age Range: 12-36 months

The Chomp and Count Dino is a classic pull along toy with a twist. Press the red button on the dino's head and he'll tell you that's he's hungry and it's time to eat! There are eight colored coins, each with a food on it. The dinosaur can actually distinguish between the coins, which reinforces color and food recognition. In addition to the coins, there are six bright buttons to press and a wheel to spin for songs and activities.

Though the recommended age range is 12-36 month, Charlie still enjoys the food/color recognition games at 4 years old. Ginny is right in the middle of the age range and is all about it. She jabbers on to the dino as he sings and asks for certain coins.

Things we love about the Chomp and Count Dino...

• Recognizes coins by food and color for recognition reinforcement
• Pull along string
• Multiple settings for different modes of play
• Over 100 songs to sing along
• Bright, chunky pieces for little hands
• All pieces store inside the dino for easy clean up
• Helps develop fine motor skills

You can purchase the Chomp and Count Dino on the VTech website and Amazon. 

Sit-to-Stand Smart Cruiser

Assembly: It takes about 15 minutes and requires a screwdriver
Weight Limit: 42 pounds
Batteries: 2 AA
Age Range: 6 - 36 months

We've had our fair share of ride on toys come and go, but the Sit-to-Stand Smart Cruiser is my favorite by far. It's a compact little cruiser that has the classic features of a sitting scooter, with the learning technology that VTech is known for. The wheel has a steering action, a shifter, left and right signals, and of course a horn. With three play modes for alphabet, music, and animals, there are a lot of activities, lights, and sounds to learn and entertain.

I'm proud to say that Ginny has mastered the forward scoot after many, many (many) frustrated backwards attempts to go forward. The best part is that she yells "scoot, scoot, scoot!" while she does it.

 Things we love about the Sit-to-Stand Smart Cruiser...

• Removable steering wheel activity for on the go or younger, sitting babies
• Lots of interactive buttons, levers, and lights
• Dozens of songs to sing along
• Multiple modes of play
• Easy to get on and off for little legs
• Compartment under the seat for hiding Mommy's keys (wait...what?)
• Bright, friendly, gender neutral colors

You can purchase the Sit-to-Stand Smart Cruiser from the VTech website or Amazon. 

Um, pardon me, you're in the way of my scooting...

Smart Shots Sports Center

Assembly: It takes about 15 minutes and requires a screwdriver
Batteries: 3 AA
Age Range: 12 - 36 months

No ball in the house! Alight, alright....you can play ball in the house. The Smart Shots Sports Center may be Ginny's favorite VTech toy at the moment. The songs and sounds cheering her on as she kicks, dunks, and scores points get belly laughs every single time. While it takes up a little more room than some of our other toys, the kids can play with it together and it has genuinely encouraged and taught Ginny how to throw overhand and kick a ball forward.

Things we love about the Smart Shots Sports Center...

• Sensors recognize when you score a goal and count accordingly
• Gender neutral - girls can be sports stars too!
• Storage for balls on the legs of the 
• Auto turn off and volume control
• Fun actions, sounds, and light up score board
• Encourages gross and fine motor skill development

You can purchase the Smart Shots Sports Center from the VTech website or Amazon. 

Grow-Along Music Center

Assembly: It took about 5 minutes and required a screwdriver
Batteries: 3 AA
Age Range: 12 - 36 months

Music is huge in our house and no flat surface or hollow tube is safe from becoming a drum of or a flute. The Grow-Along Music Center fits right in amongst the parade of instruments. With an adjustable stand and the ability to be taken off and carried with it's handle, this is a versatile toy in both use and age range.

Is it a microphone or a telescope?

Things we love about the Grow-Along Music Center...

• Height adjustable
• Top comes off for on the go or sitting babies
• Microphone really works!
• Lots of sounds and songs
• Flashing lights and instrument buttons

We really enjoy VTech toys; the quality and intentional development that goes into each design is obvious. As a parent of a past Early Intervention kid, I really appreciate that the each toy has the developmental benefits and goals listed right on the box. This let's parents and care givers know how the child can grow and develop by way of this toy. From letters and numbers to fine motor and social skills, it makes shopping for specific needs much easier.

And it may sound minor, but this seriously impressed me. Have you ever seen screws packaged like this? Now I know how many screws to expect and will KNOW there aren't any floating around as toddler choking hazards. Brilliant, VTech. Brilliant.

Here are the other overall things we love about VTech products...

• Easy to put together with clear instructions
• Few, if any, stickers to apply
• Volume controls and on/off buttons (or auto off functions) to save batteries
• Take up little room and have multiple uses
• Multiple play modes on each toy (letters, shapes, foods, counting, etc.)
• Most toys come with batteries.
• The manuals include a song list and lyrics so you can sing along!

Would you like to win ALL FOUR of these toys? (See what I did there?) Well you can by entering below! VTech was gracious enough to promise a prize pack, containing all four of the toys reviewed here, to one lucky All Four Love reader.

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Don't forget to check out VTech's social media outlets for product info and more fun stuff. Thank you VTech for sponsoring this fun review!

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Wubble Bubble Ball Review

**This post is sponsored by Wubble Bubble Ball. We were provided a Wubble to kick, punch, pull, squish, and squash, free of charge. All opinions are my own and I don't review products I wouldn't use myself!**

On the list of "where was this when I was a kid" is the Wubble Bubble Ball. I'm sure you've seen this thing on TV and wondered the same thing we did - can it actually get beat up like that and not pop? Charlie and Ginny put it to the test!

The Wubble Bubble Ball was invented by NSI President Frank Landi when his children wished they could play with a bubble without it popping. Made from a secret super stretchy plastic, the Wubble is just that - it looks like a bubble, it moves like a bubble, is incredibly lightweight, but it doesn't pop like a bubble!

When we received the Wubble in the mail, it came in a neat little box with a battery operated pump, inflation guide, mail away replacement kit, and instruction booklet. My favorite part? No nasty plastic smell! After I gave "jobs" to my "helpers," it took about 5 minutes to inflate the Wubble and get it set up. The instructions were fairly clear as far as instructions go, but if you have trouble inflating it, you can always check out this handy tutorial video. The Wubble can be inflated up to 3 feet tall (!!!), but I kept it around 30" so it wasn't towering over Ginny.

The smaller the Wubble is, the stronger it is (since it's stretched less) - something I hoped would protect it against my less than gentle children who were begging me to bring it outside to play.

Outside we went! What fun this thing is!! The Wubble is so different than any other ball or toy we've played with. You can literally grab a handful of it and chuck it in the air or at the floor to bounce it. The noises it makes when you hit it, kick it, or bounce it are hilarious and incited many, many giggles.

My two love to whack the Wubble with their hands, making it vibrate and ring out a whacky hollow sound. And as long as you keep an eye out for sharp things, you're good to go - no need to worry about it popping. Since it's light, even Ginny can lift it up and throw it or kick it, which she loves.

We're not the only ones who have enjoyed the Wubble Bubble. Target selected the Wubble Bubble Ball as a 2014 Top Toy for the Holiday Season. It was listed among other popular toys and games that are sure to be on every holiday wish list (read: if you see it on the shelf, grab it before it's gone!) The Wubble Bubble Ball is also a Family Fun Toy of the Year Award winner. The 25 winners are featured in the November 2014 issue of Family Fun Magazine. The Wubble has also won numerous toy awards, including an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, a Mr. Dad Approved Award, a Parent's Choice Award, the Dr. Toy Best 100 Picks Award, and more!

For both inside and outside play, I'd have to agree - this is going to be one hot toy this holiday season. The Wubble Bubble Ball is available at Target, Toys R Us, Amazon, and on their website, in both red and blue. The Wubble is tough, but nothing is indestructible. Luckily, they have a lifetime guarantee. If something happens to your Wubble, don't fear! You can get a replacement for $6.99 (cost for shipping/handling).


Check out the Wubble Bubble social media outlets for the latest news and product updates.

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Getting the Most Bang for Your Space with Step2

**This post was sponsored by Step2 and contains links to their products and media outlets. The products being reviewed were provided to me by Step2, free of cost. All opinions are 100% my own and I do not review products that I don't believe in or use myself.**

Just like furniture that can serve multiple purposes, I like it when toys are versatile. When you live in a small space, that space is valuable. When toys pull double duty, work for multiple children, and are made to last, they become worth that precious square footage.

It's tough to find toys like this, to be honest. Often, toys have one specific purpose, for one age group and/or gender, and that's about it. This is why I love Step2 toys. Not only are they high quality, well priced, and easily found at local stores, but so many of them are versatile and I am happy to give up apartment space for them.

The Step2 Deluxe Canyon Train Table is perfect for apartment living. Though the piece it's self is larger than most other toys we have, it is well worth the space it takes up.

Here's what we love:

• It is large enough to accommodate multiple children playing at it, but still compact. 
• It's colors are gender neutral (at least I think so).
• It was very easy to put together and the stickers were forgiving if I didn't place them just right the first time.
• The roads are open tracks, meaning any smaller vehicle you have will fit; no special track kits or vehicles to match up. 
• It does well being wiped down or when cleaning up spills (ask me how I know this!)
• There is a lot of open space under it for bins of cars and trains. 
• The table top makes it a toddler play space for blocks, coloring, or even a kid's table at Thanksgiving!

That's right, this train table is also a play table! I love the sleek white board that fits perfectly on top; it's easy to put on and take off, it covers the toys underneath making for a quick "clean up," and makes for a super versatile and sturdy table. The table top is wipeable and stands up to a bit of scrubbing after sticky hands or rouge crayon marks.

Charlie and Ginny have loved playing with train tables at the library and friend's houses, but I could never bring myself to buy one because we also had a small picnic table for them to build and color on. Plus, many train tables have small pieces that are fun for Charlie, but not safe for Ginny. So, two train tables then? A play table and a train table? No, that's just silly. Just too many things in one small space. This table is appropriate, safe, and entertaining for both of them to play on together - no matter what they're doing.

To corral all of the toys we have, we needed a toy box. We've done the bins and buckets and they work well for small things, but we've begun collecting larger toys and stuffed animals that really needed a home. 

The Step2 2-in-1 Toy Box & Art Lid fits the bill perfectly. Growing up, I had one of those toy boxes that was, well, just a box with four equal sides and a lid. Things would get lost down in the abyss constantly and we'd have to almost dive in head first, legs up in the air, to grab them. That being said, I absolutely love the shape of this toy box! 

At first you'd think the shape would make it hold less, but you'd be wrong! This thing holds a ton of stuff and it's easy for both kids (even Miss Shorty Pants) to get things out without the head first dive. 

Here's what we love:

• The shape makes it easy for even small children to get toys out. 
• Since the lid isn't a hinge type and lightweight, there isn't a chance of it falling on little fingers or noggins. 
• There are two storage bins on top to hold small parts or favorite toys for quick access.
• When purchasing, there are three color options (primary, pink/purple, or neutral tones) to match whatever space you need it in. 
• While it's obviously not it's purpose, the lid is sturdy enough to stand on (which my kids do constantly, despite my efforts).
• The lid doubles as an easel, lap desk, or display for artwork. 

That's this toy box's secret! Using the orange paper clip, you can hang pieces of construction paper on the front of the desk so children can color or display their artwork. The lightweight lid can also be taken off and used elsewhere as a lap desk to color, do puzzles, etc. We love this part! My kids love art, but easels are HUGE and we do not have room for one. 

The storage bins on top hold art supplies so they don't go rolling away and the height is perfect for both kids to enjoy. 

With such little space, I can be pretty picky about what we bring into the house, but both of these toys have been such wonderful additions to our home. I appreciate the thought and quality that goes into everything Step2 makes. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for updates about products, fun contests, and more! 

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New Colors! Piggy Paint Review & Giveaway

**This post was sponsored by Piggy Paint and contains links to their products and media outlets. The product being reviewed was provided to me by Piggy Paint free of cost. All opinions are 100% my own and I do not review products that I don't believe in or use myself.**
Earlier this year, I teamed up with Piggy Paint to bring you a fun review and giveaway. With new colors available, I'm excited to announce giveaway #2!

Last time I wrote about Piggy Paint, Ginny was just under a year old and way too squirmy to sit while I painted her nails. If you recall, I had to paint her tiny toe nails after she fell asleep! Nail polish by flashlight - hey, as a parent I've done weirder things. Now a days, Ginny absolutely loves to have her nails painted and will actually sit still while I do it! When our Show Stopper gift set arrived in the mail, she grabbed a bottle and hopped up on the couch yelling, "TOES! TOES!!" She already knows a good pedicure can fix any day.

This set, Show Stopper, includes favorites Jazz it Up and Berry-Go-Round, but also includes a new color to celebrate Muddles' 6th birthday, appropriately called, "Muddles the Pig." We were also sent a new beautiful blue color called "Bubble Trouble" as well as the newly reformulated base/top coat.

After her bath tonight, Ginny loved picking out a color for her toes. Though she went back and forth (and back and forth and back and forth), she eventually picked Berry-Go-Round and correctly identified it as purple! We've been working on colors, so any opportunity to talk about color names and choosing colors is wonderful.

This one. No, this one. Wait, I really want this one.

To be honest, I'm pretty shocked she'll sit still for it, but the girl loves having her toes painted! It's a lot of fun to paint and sing while they dry. Two rounds of ABC's or Row, Row, Row Your Boat and they're dry. Juuuuust about the length of her attention span these days, so it's perfect. No waiting forever and hoping they don't smudge.

I truly love everything about Piggy Paint, from the amazing, quality products to the friendly, interactive social media outlets and customer service.

Why we love Piggy Paint:

• Water-based, nonflammable, hypoallergenic, and does not contain any harmful chemicals or solvents.
• Doesn't have that stinging, open a window stink other polish has. 
• Safe for use on babies and during pregnancy.
• Made in the USA.
• The colors are fun and appealing to kids. There are even glitter, neon, and glow in the dark colors!
• Dries to a hard, chip resistant finish like any other polish. 
• Lots of color themed sets for different holidays and seasons. 
• There is even a low odor, acetone-free, biodegradable nail polish remover.
• Easily found at WalMart, WalMart.com, and children's boutiques nation wide.

I was excited when Piggy Paint wanted to send me polish to review, but now that I've tried it, I'm thrilled that they're sponsoring a coupon code and giveaway so I can spread the cute, tiny painted baby nail love with all of you.

Everyone can use the coupon code, but ONE lucky winner will receive a Show Stopper nail polish set (MSRP $24.99) which contains three full size bottles of fun polish. Oooh! Colors include Muddles the Pig, Berry-Go-Round, and Jazz it Up!

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Thank you to Piggy Paint for sponsoring this awesome giveaway! Check out their social media outlets for updates about new colors, sales, and fun photo contests. 

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Bedtime with FarFaria

**This post was sponsored by FarFaria and contains links to their products and media outlets. The subscription being reviewed was provided to me by FarFaria free of cost. All opinions are 100% my own and I do not review products that I don't believe in or use myself.**
Past the newborn phase, my kids have always been good, consistent sleepers. There are always the occasional bad nights due to illness or somehow knowing I have an especially brutal work day approaching, but overall I really can't complain.

One thing I attribute this to is a solid bedtime routine that we established with them when they were tiny, almost too young to really understand. Though the order changes up night by night, the basics are always there - clean up toys, put on pajamas, brush teeth, and read a story...err, stories. We try to keep it to one, but these kids absolutely love being read to. How can I put a limit on that? Though we have shelf loads of favorite books, sometimes it's nice to change up the same old stories with something new. I can only read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Skippy Jon Jones so many times!

Regardless of what stories we read until the spines break down, sometimes bedtime is the most time we get to spend together all day. With the hustle and bustle of work and school and dinner, it gets crazy. Bedtime is calm. It's just us.

With our love of bedtime stories, we were given the opportunity to check out FarFaria; an app for iPhone, iPad, and Android that, through a subscription based service, gives your family access to hundreds of books each month. It's like having the local library at your fingertips; able to choose new stories whenever the picky toddler mood strikes.

Covering five different reading levels, FarFaria has a tremendous variety of stories for toddlers and children with topics ranging from dinosaurs to fairy tales to non-fiction to bible stories and everything in between. I introduced Charlie and Ginny to the app one night and they were almost overwhelmed with the choices. The menu was easy to navigate and since they're both familiar with running the iPad, it was easy for them to choose their own story......again and again and again.

Recently read stories are saved on top to make them easier to find next time and favorites can be downloaded and accessed without wifi, which is perfect for bedtime when you're traveling.

Why we love FarFaria:

• Unlimited reading from a library of more than 750 stories.
• Five new, engaging stories added every week.
• Bright, fun stories with something for every interest.
• Every story can be read aloud with a "Read-to-Me" feature.
• Reading-level badge on every story cover.
• Offline access to read favorite stories.
• No advertising and no hidden fees.

FarFaria is available through the App Store or Google Play. Downloading is free and the subscription is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. You can also send a subscription, making for a fun and different gift for a little reader in your life.

Reading to children is such an important part of their educational journey, no matter how old they are. Even if they're tiny, trust me - they're listening. To share the joy of reading and our new found love of FarFaria, I'm excited to offer a 3 month subscription to one lucky reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you FarFaria, for sponsoring this awesome experience!

Goodbye, Cloth...

I'm sad to say it, but we're selling (most of) our cloth diapers.

It's been a good run, cloth, but our relationship...just might need to end here. Please don't be upset....it's me, not you. Well really, it's not me; it's Ginny. After 18 months of using cloth diapers, Ginny has developed some kind of sensitivity to the inner lining of her diapers. Though it's rare, it can happen and so of course, it happened to poor Ginny. After ruling out yeast, acidic poop issues, detergent allergies, changing her more often, and a few other things, this is the only thing I can think of.

The problem is that her diapers have two different kind of inner linings - bumGenius has micro suede and Grovia and Rumparooz have micro fleece. I have no idea which one is causing the issue and honestly...I don't have the time or energy to run cloth diaper experiments and figure it out.

That's my confession in all of this. We do have options in front of us to stay in cloth, but after months of stripping, trying new soaps, and trying to heal this blistering rash, I give up. I would rather spend time with my family than in front of the washer running extra rinses. I don't have the time or money to sell our entire current stash and outfit her in organic fabrics (to the tune of about $25 a diaper). We're also up against other issues that would make figuring this out harder. We don't have enough of any one brand to have her wear them long enough to determine the culprit. We could use a different fabric as an inner liner to protect her from the diaper's lining, but daycare will only allow pocket diapers that they don't need to prep.

So here we are, prepping and selling almost everything. I'm going to keep my newborn set up of prefolds and covers, as well as some of my favorite prints and colors in case we have another kid, but otherwise it's all going. There's nothing wrong with the diapers themselves - Ginny's skin just doesn't react well.

Between both kids, it's been a long road with cloth and I would be lying if I said I was sad, despite the huge reduction in laundry this will result in. Here's the clipping diaper coupons and making sure we have enough disposables around. I'm going to miss my little fluffy butts.