We have a winner and something new

The winner of my Featured Reader Contest is Tiaras and Tantrums! Congratulations my friend! Please contact me to let me know what you would like!

The Awaken The Laughter In Your Heart is a new hand stamped necklace just listed in my shop. The necklace has my new lowercase, script font. Just today I received my uppercase script font so look for some new pieces in my shop soon. Creating new pieces is always fun! You can view product details HERE.

Review and Giveaway: Give learning a Jump Start

When I was asked to review Jump Start, I was very interested since my 3.5 year old, Will loves to play with my computer. It is hard to find games that are age appropriate for him but JumpStart certainly is appropriate for his age, you just need to help a bit with the navigation.

I do have a bone to pick with Jump Start, I couldn't get Will off the computer the first time we tried it out we were on the computer for hours. What I love about Jump Start is that the learning is actually fun. Will thought he was playing a game. Later that day, (that is once I finally got him off of the computer) I heard him singing some of the songs and he kept asking to play again and again. He had no idea he was learning while playing, which is the way learning should be.

Jump Start is an award-winning adventure-based 3D virtual world that is personalized, your child can create their own character and jump right into the game. There are plenty of areas to help you if you get stuck too.




The JumpStart virtual world is broken into three main segments, each targeted towards a different age range. Story Land (for ages 3-5), Adventure Land (6-8’s) and Futureland (8-10’s)
Each section offers various levels of challenge and game play as your child progresses.

The game is free to try out and lets kids play in one of the world’s themed zones, but to access the majority of the content families will need to pay a $7.99 monthly subscription fee (per family not per child.) You can purchase memberships online or in stores such as Toys R Us, Best Buy and Rite Aid.

Jump Start also has a blog to accompany their main site where you will find many updates.

Will and I had a lot of fun playing/learning with JumpStart and I am thankful for finding a fun, interactive learning game for Will. Would you like to give JumpStart a spin?

Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!

JumpStart is offering one of my readers a FREE 3 month subscription to their site!

Here is how you can enter:

1. Leave a comment and tell me why you would like to win this subscription for your kiddo(s)

Extra Entries:

Follow my blog

Tweet about this contest

Add my blog button to your site

Follow JumpStart on Twitter HERE

Contests ends on July 7th at 11:59PM. Please leave a way for me to contact if you are the winner!

Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to.....

Hello friends! Happy Monday. We had a very nice weekend at my parent's lake house, it was our first time out for the season. It was nice to get a break since normally I work most weekends. Will wanted to swim in the lake, which was a surprise to me since he has never wanted to before, I will be sure to share some pictures later in the week.

I always love Monday's since I have the pleasure of introducing one of my fabulous readers. I have the great pleasure of introducing Loukia of Lou Lou's Views. Loukia is a very busy Mom of two kiddos under the age of 4, has a full time job, a blog and manages to always look just stunning! Loukia also loves to shop, which just happens to be one of my favorite hobbies. Please grab a cup of joe and get to know the fabulous Loukia!

Name:

My name is Loukia... people also call me Lou or Loulou. My kids just call me mommy.Which I totally love. My blog is Lou Lou's Views

Your family:

I'm married to my high school sweetheart, and we have two amazing boys - Christos, who is almost 4 years old, and Dimitry, who is 17 months old!

How did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 2007, when my first son was 18 months old. I used to send my friends dozens of emails a day, talking about life as a mom, talking about the news that I found interesting, complaining about not being able to lose weight, sharing my ideas and thoughts about everything - my blog was a way better outlet to get my feelings out! My friends are very thankful. :) Also - I LOVE to write. It's my passion. What better way then to record what is happening in my life? I find blogging to be like free therapy!

If you are a parent do you have a parenting philosophy?

I don't really have a parenting philosophy. I love my boys with all my heart and they are my life. I love being with them, playing with them, teaching them, and I enjoy watching them grow and interact with each other. I don't think you can ever spoil a baby; I do not let my children 'cry it out', and I'm a big supporter of co-sleeping. My blogging philosophy is be nice! Leave comments! ;)

You will never find me without...... My Louis Vuitton! And a diaper bag which contains enough 'stuff' in it, I'm sure we could take a vacation for a month and not have to worry about running out of diapers, or a change of clothes, or snacks!

Day job:

I'm a Communications Advisor for the Federal Government. It's a great job, because I can be creative, and I'm also the Editor of our newsletter. I'm also a writer - I have a passion for writing, and have loved writing since I was a child. I always had a journal of some sort, documenting my thoughts, or stories, or poems. I'd love to be a published children's book author some day! But my favourite job, and the only one that really counts? MOMMY!

Favorite Stuff:

Music: I love anything with a good beat! Right now, I'm loving Black Eyed Peas (as usual!) and Lady Gaga. My favourites are Tom Petty, The Eagles, Dre, (I know, I'm all over the place...) Snoop Dog, Prince, and well, everything!

Food: Pizza, Pasta, anything Greek, ice cream (french vanilla!) and chips and salsa. Oh, and chocolate covered almonds. And Doritos. Um, and strawberries. So it doesn't sound like all I eat is junk! ;)

Tv/ Movies: The Office, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives! Movies... too many to list!

Reading: I always have a book or two on the go. I have a lot of favourites. Reading Night was very sad and touching, I loved A Prayer for Owen Meany, Fall On Your Knees, The Way the Crow Flies, The Glass Castle, The Other Bolyen Girl, The History of Love, Time Traveler's Wife, Prep, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Angela's Ashes, and a million more! I also LOVE reading to my kids; I think they own every children's book IN Chapters/Barnes and Noble!

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it what would it be? "This, too, shall pass."

Favorite stores to shop at:

I love shopping at Nordstrom when I'm in the US, or bebe. I also love shopping at Banana Republic! And Gap Kids for my boys!

If you could trade with a blogger for the day who would it be?

I'd trade places with the fabulous McMommy (www.themcmommychronicles) because, well, she lives in Florida! To be surrounded by the beach and palm trees? LOVE it!

Please be sure to leave Loukia some comment love here and also head on over to her site HERE.

If you would like to be a featured reader please send me a email with a link to your blog to klacustomcreations@comcast.net and don't be shy about wanting to be featured!!!!

Remembering Michael Jackson

Last night I was on Twitter and started seeing everyone talking about the death of Michael Jackson. It was such a shock to me and brought back so many memories from my youth. I remember just loving him in elementary school and spent so much time with friends choreographing our own moves to songs like Beat It , Billie Jean, and Bad. I also remember wearing as many Michael Jackson buttons as I could on my jacket and my little Jordache purse.

Michael Jackson will be remembered as one of the most talented musicians, even though things got a bit bizarre over the last 10-15 years he brought many special memories for me and for thank I am truly thankful!

What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?


Did you wear Michael Jackson buttons too?

Aloha Friday....

Hello friends! With the weather being so hot I thought it would be perfect to talk about the perfect summertime drink.

My favorite summertime drink is a Arnold Palmer or half lemonade and half ice tea with a lot of ice. I like to brew some ice tea and then top it off with Simply Lemonade, it is just like fresh squeezed and is about as close and you can get with out squeezing the lemons yourself.

What is your favorite summertime drink?

For more Aloha Friday's please click on the pic below:

This just in... more in the NEW lowercase font

One of my original pieces and a customer favorite is the simple signature hand stamped two disc necklace and it is now available in my new lowercase script font. You can view it in my shop Kristen's Custom Creations.

Thousand Words Thursday..... wait... wait... AHHHH

It has been so hot the last few days and we went to the "Castle Park" as Will calls it and he discovered that the park has a sprinkler mister, you push a red button and then it randomly mists water. He played with this almost the entire time we were at the park. I have to say it was pretty refreshing! I think we need a magical mister in our back yard too.

Tell me what do you do to cool down when it is really hot?

For more Thousand Words Thursday please visit Cheaper Than Therapy Jen.

Wordful/Wordless Wednesday

As long as Kane has his soft, comfy bed he will lay his head just about anywhere and sometimes it really doesn't look too comfortable. To me this was funny since he has his nose on the flat bed of Will's truck, almost like Monsters Vs. Aliens.

Happy Wednesday friends!

Motor Muster highlights at The Henry Ford

Will and I riding in a Model T

Will and Hubby, see the mustang in the background?

Will's cars on display, Will felt they were photo worthy!

The Vernor's truck or the "Man Pop Truck" according to Will

A very fun day filled with Model T rides, carousel rides and a frosty root beer floats! We were all very tired at the end of this day!

Just listed... The hand stamped customized mommy necklace with fancy script

I am having fun with my new fancy lower case script and just added this piece to my shop HERE.

Let me know what you think of the new piece?

You can view my entire handstamped collection in my shop Kristen's Custom Creations.

Featured Reader: Let me Introduce you to....

Hello friends! I hope everyone had a great weekend and I hope all of the Dad's had a very special day! We went to the Motor Muster at The Henry Ford and had a lot of fun, it was car heaven for both of my boys! I am outnumbered when it comes to many things so I need to learn to love some boy stuff.

I always love introducing you to my fab readers and have the great pleasure of introducing you to Kara of Eli's Lids this week! Kara and I met on Twitter and became fast friends. I love Kara's lids and T- shirts. Will has a lid from Eli's Lids and two of their T-shirts. What I love about them is how trendy they are and Will says the T-shirts are his "most comfy", trust me they are super soft. Please grab your beverage of choice and get to know my friend Kara.

Name:

Kara-Noel Lawson of Eli's Lids

Family:

Eli (my inspiration)

Cora Jane (my sidekick)

How did you start blogging?

I solely started blogging because it was free advertising for Eli’s Lids. Then a funny thing happened… I fell in love with the community. I love love love blogging!

What is your parenting philosophy?

My parenting philosophy is to make Eli and Cora Jane’s childhood magical. I hope they look back on my years with them and get a warm fuzzy inside… not material to discuss with their therapist!!

You will never find me without.....

A water bottle. I’m constantly concerned that I might get dehydrated. Dehydration is my scapegoat. “Sorry I’m so cranky, I must be dehydrated…” “I was way too tired to fold t

he laundry, I must be dehydrated…” You get the idea. I’m a dork!

Day job:

I am the founder, owner and sole worker for Eli’s Lids (aka hats). I started sewing Eli’s Lids after our firstborn, Eli, was born. I created the pattern myself with style and practicality in mind. Eli’s Lids are stylish, just look at them:

And practical! The smaller size fits size newborn to 1-year-old and

the larger size fits a 1-year-old to a 5-year old. It even fits my head!

Eli’s Lids has a huge heart for kids! We donate 10% of our profits to ACT Today! An awesome nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase access to effective autism treatments.

Favorite Stuff:

Music: My favorite band is Jars of Clay. David Crowder Band is a close second.

Food: I like everything… That’s the problem. I could live on candy.

Tv/ Movies: The Office is the only show we watch… REALLY, we don’t have TV so we watch in on the internet! My all time favorite move is Goonies.

Reading: I love love love reading. Right now I’m reading through The Wheel of Time (an epic sci-fi series).

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it

what would it be?

Live in the Moment!

Favorite stores to shop at:

Anthropologie & The Dollar Tree

If you could trade with a blogger for the day who would it be?

I’ve never thought about that! I would love to have the modern vintage creativity of my favorite blogger Stephanie Neilson from the Nie Nie Dialogues Nie Nie Dialogues

Other Good Stuff from Kara:

I love being a wife and mommy! I hope you visit my blog and are inspired to do a craft with your kiddos or make out with your hubby, or at least have a laugh at my expense!

Kara is graciously offering a 20% discount in her shop HERE just enter code Kristin until 7/31/09!

If you would like to be a featured reader please send a link to yoru blog to klacustomcreations@comcast.net