The Company’s flagship offering is the revolutionary KidZui Browser, a small application that downloads easily on PCs, Macs, and computers with FireFox. The KidZui Browser was designed from the ground-up to allow children to safely and independently search, share and discover more than 2 million parent and teacher approved websites, pictures, games and videos.

KidZui’s purpose is to keep kids safe online, empower their curiosity, and engage parents with their kids’ interests (through weekly parental emails and parental controls). In addition to the core service, the KidZui Web Network includes ZuiGames (the best site for child-appropriate flash games on the web) and ZuiTube (the best site for kids to watch and explore kid-appropriate YouTube videos).

My son Xander (5) loves to use this browser because he doesn’t need to be able to read in order to find his favorite places online. I love it because he can’t get anywhere “bad” so I don’t have to watch him like a hawk just yet while he uses the computer! Plus, he’s not sure how to access the websites he likes (i.e. NickJr.com or SproutOnline.com) so he can just click on a character icon and be taken to the page he wants to visit. It doesn’t take up much room on the hard drive either and works well on laptops.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck for ideas, you may want to add these Parties With Purpose guides to your bag of tricks. The set includes The Giving Book, The Hero Book, The Greening Book, and The Healthy Body Book. You can plan a whole party around the ideas in these guides or just select specific activities that meet your needs!

These guides are completely free – so check them out!

The prices are low – the shipping is low and the quality is great! Support “Momtrepreneurs” (and military wives) and check out Rockin’ Ribbons!

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/0 [ No connection, unpaid, my own opinions ]

For some reason my allergies began acting up while my plane was landing in Atlanta. Of course I didn’t have any tissues – but I remember I had one solitary Boogie Wipe stuffed into my bag! I ripped it open and utilized it on my drippy nose.

First off – there was no burn like you get when you use regular wet wipes (because they are made with alcohol). Second it was strong and I was able to not only blow my nose with it, but also use it a couple times (yeah I know … gross … but should I have used my sleeve instead?).

The only thing that got to me was the fact it smelled like grape juice. Thankfully – they also have “menthol” and “fresh” scents in addition to the “grape” scent.

There are two ways Boogie Wipes come packaged. There is a package of wipes (similar to how baby wipes come packaged) and also individually wrapped wipes (this is what I had in my backpack). There is also a DIAPER CAKE option which would make a great gift for a new mama!

Both Dive Olly Dive and Sid the Science Kid debuted only a few months ago – but they both have already been nominated for Emmy awards. There’s a reason for this – because they both teach kids important lessons. Sid (as gathered from the title) is in LOVE with anything science related. He loves to learn about how things work and loves to ask questions. Olly and his friends teach kids about sea life in the ocean along lessons on friendship, responsibility and LISTENING.

Our favorite of the DVD’s was “Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club.” We had a sneak peek at one of the episodes on this DVD – “The Dirt on Dirt” back in April for Earth Day! Xander is now getting old enough to ask questions about nature and I love teaching him about things like bugs, butterflies and weather. So when Sid starts asking questions I’ve gotta be prepared for when Xander follows suit!

“Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens”

Sid wants to know why things have to change. Why does his yellow banana turn brown? How come his shoes are shrinking? What made his ice pop melt and just how does Grandma know how to make a pancake this is not too squishy or burnt? Sid and his friends work together to discover the effects of time, temperature and the environment with the help of some revealing experiments and songs.

Episodes: My Mushy Banana, My Shrinking Shoes, My Ice Pops and The Perfect Pancake

“Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club”
When Sid hears dogs barking in his neighborhood, he wonders if they’re talking to him. At school, Sid discovers that animals do communicate in lots of different ways, by using body language, making sounds, and barking! It’s the latest question in a long list of questions that Sid finds himself wondering about. For example, what makes dirt so dirty? Why do bees live in hives and ants live in anthills? Come explore backyard science with Sid in these super duper episodes that feature bugs, nature, animals and more.

Episodes: Hello Doggie, Home Tweet Home, The Dirt on Dirt and Don’t Forget the Leaves

“Dive Olly Dive: Ship Shape Sub”
First, Olly, Beth and Skid ignore a warning from Diver Doug when they decide to stay overnight on a “haunted” shipwreck. The friends soon learn that the spooky ship might not be haunted, but it’s still dangerous! In another adventure, Suzy the Sea Plane doesn’t listen to Ranger the Cowboy Seahorse because of his small size. But when Suzy becomes tangled in the Kelp Forest. she learns good things can come in small packages.

Episodes: Haunted Ship Prank, Less is More, Navigation Consternation, Follow That Lobster and
Don’t Tell Beth


All three DVDs are available on Amazon –and are SO worth the buy! Amazon has “The Bug Club” and “Change Happens” for $9.99 each and “Ship Shape Sub” for $11.49 (with all of them being eligible for free Super Saver Shipping!)

But – I will tell you what … My friend Jennifer over at The Dirty Shirt is running a contest until August 28th where you can WIN these DVD’s!! Go visit and enter to win!

Disney World was recently doing a special for military families that would allow the service member to get into any Disney park for free. I have to admit; once I started hearing about friends’ plans to take their families I got a little jealous. I adore Disney World! I grew up in Florida so I was lucky to have been able to visit the parks often as a child. Unfortunately, the only park that I haven’t been to yet is the Animal Kingdom one. Hopefully I will be able to bring my family to that park at some point in the near future.

For those of you that haven’t been able to go yet – each Disney park has its own “theme” and personality. The main Disneyworld park has always been my personal favorite. I love the Splash Mountain ride and of course Space Mountain (loved that one since I was around my sons’ age!). My all time favorite ride at Disney is the Haunted Mansion over in the Liberty Square area. I know one of my husband’s favorite rides would be the Haunted Mansion (or the Pirates!) and Xander loves the Pirates ride also. He also liked “It’s A Small World” and the race cars. We had a good time when we went a couple years ago – we even got to meet Mickey and Buzz Lightyear.

Epcot Center has always been a great park also. I always loved visiting each “country” in their World Showcase and eating at the German Biergarten Restaurant or the great Mexican place. Oh! I also like getting chocolate crêpes in France! (I love food – can you tell?) Mexico also has a super cute ride that is a little reminiscent of “It’s A Small World” over at Disneyworld and Norway has the “Maelstrom” ride (which is awesome!).

Disney Hollywood Studio’s (which I’ve always known as “MGM Studios”) has two of the COOLEST rides in the world – the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster and the Hollywood Tower of Terror. I LOVE these rides and can’t wait until Xander is old enough to come ride them with me.

Any trip to Disney is sure to be completely awesome. I wish would could go again soon but even with some the the great deals on Disney World Tickets that can be found in the area I doubt we can afford it right now.

Guess I have to just live vicariously through my friends and look at my photos instead.

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
2. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (Classic Seuss) by Dr. Seuss
3. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
4. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
5. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
6. Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
7. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
8. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
9. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (although, in the same sense this book upsets me as much as “teaches” me!)
10. This is the House that Jack Built (I adore this book!)

Some other books that we really love in our house are just about anything by Dr. Seuss (”Mulberry Street,” “One Fish, Two Fish …” and “Hop on Pop” are some of the favorites – can’t forget “Cat in the Hat” too!), “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” and anything about pirates!

We love books here – we are all pretty ravenous readers! I’m excited for when Xander is older and I can introduce him to the “older” books like Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, Strawberry Girl (a “Florida” favorite!) and especially the Harry Potter series!

I picked up a toy kitchen at a yard sale for about $30 a couple years ago. It’s tan and white (so it’s unisex) and pretty big – and my son loves it. He likes to “cook Mama breakfast” on the weekends and likes to dress up in his little chef outfit while he “cooks.” We got a small bag of “play food” when I bought the kitchen but some of it’s gone missing. So, I’m definitely in the market for some new food!

I did a search on Amazon and came across some play food by a company called “Melissa and Doug” who make awesome wooden toys for kids. I was under the impression that their stuff was pricey (judging by what I’ve seen at stores) but it’s really not too bad. I really thought that the Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Box was really neat! The “food” makes a realistic “crunch” sound when kids cut into it! This smooth-sanded, solid wood set in vibrant colors features a cutting board, rounded knife, and 8 food items that cut into 29 (large) pieces. I think this toy would be not only a great plaything for kids – but it serves a purpose also; teaching kids to cut … safely.

Kids need to PLAY more often – to use their imaginations! I am a huge fan of imaginative play and I really think certain toys (play kitchens, dress up, gardening “toys” and of course dolls/action figures) really facilitate it. Boys and girls can both get into toy kitchens (and even dress up!) so don’t be afraid to let your BOYS play with them also.

Be sure to check out the really neat wooden Sushi Kit from Melissa & Doug also! HOW COOL!!

What are your kids’ favorite imaginative play items?

You know Debi Derryberry – you might just not know you know her! Ms. Derryberry is a voice-over actress and singer who’s voiced such memorable characters as Jimmy Neutron – Boy Genius, Jay-Jay the Jet Plane and Wednesday Adams on the old animated Saturday morning cartoon “The Adams Family!”

Well, Ms. Derryberry is also a talented children’s singer. She’s got three albums under her belt including the brand new “Debi Derryberry’s Baby Banana” album based on her new preschool character Baby Banana! The inspiration for the CD and Baby Banana comes from a bedtime story about a unique and loving family – Baby Banana, Momma Duck and Daddy Gorilla – which was originally created for Debi’s young son.

The new CD is a great tropical mix of calypso, reggae, jazz and folk rock and makes you want to dance around the beach (or living room!) with your little ones! Songs include “Tropical Fruit” which is a calypso/reggae salute to mango, papaya and other yummy island fruit, “Freckle Face Freddie” – a great song about how wonderful freckles are (which is awesome since both my son and husband have them!) and a sleepytime song “Slumberland.” The music is memorable and catchy and not at all annoying (like a lot of kids music is – sorry but it’s true! LOL!)

PLUS – the last track on the CD is Ms. Derryberry herself reading her (included) story “Baby Banana and the Licorice Tree” which introduces Baby Banana and his family! The story tells of how Baby Banana, Momma Duck and Daddy Gorilla search for the island where the yummy licorice tree grows!

Xander and I loved the CD! Xander had a great time dancing around to the music. He preferred the “fast” songs to the “slow” songs – but that’s just how my boy rolls.

Debi Derryberry’s Baby Banana is being released to the masses (that would be YOU) on May 5th! But you can win it before you can buy it! Here are the details!

WIN IT:
In order to win your very own copy of Debi Derryberry’s Baby Banana from Atomic-Mama.com please visit the official Debi Derryberry website and tell me something about it! (Pretty easy huh? Just leave a comment!)

Each of these gives you one additional entry (leave a comment for each thing that you do):
1. Twitter about this contest. Please leave me your username so I can verify. Or use something like this:

@starryskye81 is giving away the BRAND NEW “Debi Derryberry’s Baby Banana” CD! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/c6q5sa

2. Stumble this post. If you don’t know what Stumble Upon is, please read Lori’s post at Blogging Cents. She explains it extremely well.
3. Add this post to other social media sites like Digg, Kirtsy, Blogging Zoom, Reddit, Propeller, Etc. (1 entry for each social network).

Each of these gives you 5 additional entries (again, leave a comment for each thing you do):
1. Blog about this on your blog. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
2. Add this to any forums you belong too. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
3. Subscribe to this blog using my RSS feed!
4. Add my badge to your sidebar:

<a href=”http://www.atomic-mama.com”><img alt=”Atomic-Mama” src=”http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b200/moongoddessxtc/Advertisements/125AtomicMama.jpg” border=”0″></a></a>

The contest will close on Saturday, May 16th at 6pm EST so get those entries in!

BUY IT:
If you just can’t wait and have to have the new cd NOW you can snag it at the Debi Derryberry website, Barnes and Noble or Amazon!

Puppets are fascinating to little ones. Creating their own puppets is easy, and it’s lots of fun. All you really need are some craft or popsicle sticks, construction paper, safety scissors, markers and glue.

Help your toddler cut animal shapes out of construction paper. He can draw faces and other details with washable markers. Glue the stick to the back of the shape, let dry, and he’s ready to put on a puppet show. If you want to make more elaborate puppets, try cutting shapes out of foam. Glue on a pom pom for the nose, and add some googly eyes.

All the supplies for this project can be found extremely cheap!