Spotlight: Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back-to-School Combo

Bean will be starting preschool in the fall (yikes, did I just type that? Seriously, where did the time go?). We recently attended the new parent orientation and one of the power point slides indicated that EVERYTHING had to be labeled--from cups to sweaters to backpacks.

Lucky for us, we can already check that requirement off our list thanks to Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back to School Combo! As a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama, I have the privilege of being able to check out new products first hand. I was recently sent the Ultimate Back to School Combo which is perfect timing for our preschool prep.

Available for a limited time until September 24th, the Ultimate Back to School Combo has all the labels you need to ensure that all the stuff that leaves your house actually comes back. The Ultimate Back to School Combo pack includes:

50 Tag Mates (laundry safe tags--simply stick to the care tag of your child's clothing)
40 Skinny-Minis (perfect for labeling school supplies)
16 Shoe Labels
2 Teeny Tags (super cute tags to label backpacks, pencil cases, etc.)

The Ultimate Back to School Combo comes in two styles, Classic ($39) and Colorful ($44). Both styles have six color combos or design motifs to choose from.

Now if you're anything like me, you're going to find a bit of happiness and satisfaction as you stick each label on your kid's jackets, lunchboxes, crayons, and snack cups. Or maybe I'm just too Type A, but at least I get compliments on our labels vs. the ol' dull Sharpie markings.

Buy it! The Ultimate Back to School Combo is available online at www.mabel.ca.

Note: I received a sample Ultimate Back to School Combo based on my participation in the Mabel's Labels Buzzmama program.

Winner!

Congrats to lucky number 187, Jinxy and Me, who won the Things Remembered BBQ Tool Set! Check your e-mail!

Father's Day Spotlight (and Giveaway!): Things Remembered BBQ Tool Set

Father's day is quickly sneaking up on us (it's on the 20th for those of you who are like me and didn't know until I consulted my calendar) and it's time for me to start thinking about what Bean will make for his daddy and how I will honor my dad.Things Remembered is one of my favorite online stores that carries a wide selection of personalized gifts to celebrate special occasions such as graduation and Father's Day. Gifts for dad include silver plated cuff links, leather money clips, and a 2 GB silver USB key chain for the techy dad.

One of my dad's favorite hobbies is grilling--during the summers it seems like he is outdoors every day firing up his charcoal grill. Things Remembered offers a cool BBQ Gift Set that I immediately knew would be great for my dad. The 4 piece set includes a spatula, fork, tongs, silicone brush, and a beautiful black storage case. The coolest part about the Things Remembered BBQ Tool Set is that the spatula and the box can be personalized so that there's no doubt who's King of the Grill!

Things Remembered sent me the BBQ Tool Set to check out and I was thrilled with the final product and I know my dad will be ecstatic to flip burgers with this set. Even the box that it comes in is beautiful!The tools are packed carefully in a wooden, lined storage case that in itself is a thing of beauty: The stainless steel tools have a sturdy heft to it and the extra-long wooden hands ensure grilling safety and comfort. I had the spatula and box engraved with my dad's last name and it came out beautiful! There's a nice variety of fonts to choose from and to make things easy, there are recommended fonts that are pre-selected by the experts over at Things Remembered to help narrow down the choices.

I know my dad is going to love this BBQ Set as much as I already love it--and the extra personalization will let him know that it is extra special!

Buy it! This BBQ Tool Set retails for $65 (personalization extra) and is available online at www.thingsremembered.com.

Win it! One lucky Psych Mommy reader will win their own BBQ Tool Set (including personalization!). To enter this giveaway, head on over to Things Remembered at www.ThingsRemembered.com and tell me another product that you'd love to give for Father's Day and how you'd engrave it.

Want some extra credit?
Follow @Tremembered on Twitter and tweet "I'm following @Tremembered thanks to @apsychmommy!" (1 extra entry)

Fan Things Remembered on Facebook (1 extra entry)

Leave a comment on the Things Remembered Facebook wall about a Things Remembered gift you'd love to give for Father's Day and how you'd engrave it along with a link to this post (1 extra entry)

As always, the following are also extra credit:
Follow A Psych Mommy (1 extra entry)
Subscribe to A Psych Mommy (1 extra entry)
Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post (5 extra entries)


This giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only. Winner must not have won a Things Remembered contest or sweepstakes in the past 90 days. This post will be open for entries until June 10th at 11:59 pm EST. Good luck!

Note: I received the above product (BBQ Tool Set) to review from Things Remembered.

Work Dilemma Solved

I probably have made more pro and con lists in the past few days than I have in my entire life. After reviewing my lists over and over again, consulting with my husband, our daycare provider (we had to ensure that she could even watch him on Fridays), and even my principals I have come to a decision (*finally*).

For the 2010-2011 school year, I will officially be full time.

I'll miss our Fridays off together, but my goal for the year is to save as much as possible so in the even that we become pregnant, I might be able to take even MORE time off for maternity leave. Depending on the due date of #2, I will then try and reduce my contract to maybe 60% or back to 80% the following school year.

I'm finally at peace with my decision, but I'm sure it will take some adjusting once I start back at work and my Tuesdays are no longer the midpoint. Until then, I'm definitely making the most of my Fridays Fun Day with Bean!

Wordless Wednesday

The only one at the park. Where is everybody?

Book Report: Crazy Horse's Vision

One of the best known Native American heroes is Crazy Horse, the leader of the Oglala Lakota and participant in the Battle of Little Big Horn. Before his name became legendary, he was known as Curly as a boy.

Crazy Horse's Vision, by Joseph Bruchac, tells the story of Curly's boyhood. One of the events highlighted in this book is the time when Curly witnessed U.S. army soldiers attacking his people. He then goes on a vision quest and envisions a rider on the back of his own pony floating in the air. As the air filled with hail and bullets, the rider remain untouched.

Curly's father interpreted the vision and told him that "The man on that horse is the one you will become." His father then gives him his own name, Tashunka Witco, which soon began to stand for the bravest of all the Lakotas.

This award winning children's book is beautifully illustrated by S.D. Nelson who is of Lakota Indian descent. The illustrations are in the traditional ledger book style of the Plains Indians and help to bring to life the powerful story of Crazy Horse's youth.

At the end of the book, there is an Author's Note which further delves into Crazy Horse's life and death. The Illustrator's Note explains the history of the ledger book style of the Plains Indians and the significance of the colors--Crazy Horse is painted in blue to represent the sky and a connection with the spirit world.

My nephew, who is a huge history buff, loved this introduction to Crazy Horse. He was also intrigued by learning about the different traditional symbols that are used throughout the book and I noticed that he actively searched for the symbols on the tipis and horses.

Crazy Horse's Vision is a good addition to Social Studies units on Native American History and to use as a launchpad for discussions about character traits such as bravery, selflessness, and leadership.

Interest Level: Grades 1-5
Reading Level: Grade 3
Buy it: Crazy Horse's Vision retails for $18.95 and is available online at Lee & Low Books here.

Teachers--check out the teaching guide online here!

Note: I received a review copy of the above book.

To work full time, or to not work full time. That is the tough question.

Sorry for the delay in a new post, but I had to take a temporary break to take care of my seemingly always sick son. Work also is killing me at the moment. It's nearing the end of the school year so it's always a stressful time with all of the last minute assessments and trying to tie up loose ends. This unfortunately meant that I was bringing reports home to write (especially not fun with a 20 month old toddler who just wants all your attention).

I've also been stressing over the decision that I have to make whether or not to return back to work full time. I was recently notified that both of my school sites would increase the time for a school psychologist from 2 days each to 2.5. I love both of my schools--I have been at each for three years now and have really gotten to know the kids, families, and staff. If I decide to return back to work full time to 5 days per week, then I could return back to both schools. If I decide to stay at 4 days per week, then I would have the tough decision of deciding which school to give up and then take a huge gamble of getting a school that might not be quite my cup of tea.

I know that it doesn't sound like much to get a new school, but trust me--if you get the wrong school, it could sometimes mean double the work. A few years back, I had a tough school that I must have brought home work every single day.

I love my Fridays off with Bean. If we could swing it financially, I would be a SAHM, but unfortunately student loans (lots of it when both of us went to grad school for four years), a huge mortgage, a car payment, plus all the other living expenses pretty much eats away at whatever we bring home with barely enough for savings as it is.

So of course one of the potential benefits is the extra pay. Technically, it would be a 25% increase to what I'm making now. That would mean that we could set aside money for a nice vacation, Bean's college fund, pay off our loans a bit quicker, etc.

But how can you put a cost on the time spent with your child?

Ugh. I really hate having to make this decision. I'm leaning towards the full time only because Bean's going to start preschool in January anyways and it's five days a week. As soon as I feel like I made up my mind, though, I begin to waver to the other side.

Sigh.

Thanks for listening. I think blogging about it helped me to lay out both sides, but it just put a knot in my stomach.