Jolly Mom

A few weeks ago, we had the AWESOME opportunity to see the Thomas & Friends Live on Stage: A Circus Comes to Town show courtesy of Mom Select. We were so excited because not only does Lucas love Thomas, but Mike and I love the Fox Theater! Since Lucas is so young, we chose to go to an early Sunday afternoon show rather than an evening show. We thought he might have a meltdown if we kept him up way past his bedtime and didn't want to risk it. I think it was the perfect time to go--Lucas took a nap in the car on the way there and we all got to eat lunch before the show {read: save money by not having to eat at the event}.


When the show started and Sir Topham Hatt came out, the audience erupted into a thundering applause! The kids were so happy and excited to be there--you could literally feel their joy in the air. The show did not disappoint either! The costumes and characters were amazing--very close to the actual TV show. The songs were upbeat and fun as were the actors. Overall, this was an awesome show and I definitely recommend it!

We weren't allowed to take any flash cameras inside, but I was able to take my pocket video camera. Here's a peek at the show!




For more information on show dates and times, please click here.

Kmart is having a HUGE sale on hundreds of summer items this weekend including toys, summer wear, outdoor living and much, much more! Here are a few examples:

Example Bluelight Specials -- 1 HOUR Offers That Will Run Once Friday 7/17-Sunday 7/19

• Outdoor Living -- Gas and charcoal grills, grill accessories, patio furniture, outdoor decor and pots -- 50% off
• Apparel -- Kids graphic tees and men's swimwear -- $2.00; 3 pack Joe Boxer socks -- $1.00

Example of Offers ALL WEEKEND

• Jewelry -- 1/8 cttw diamond studs, regular $139.99 -- this weekend, $29,99 and a 3 piece pearl set, regular $99.99 -- this weekend, $19.99
• Toys -- Slip N Slide Splash Factory Water Slide & Banzai Titan Blast Water Rocket, regular $49.99 -- this weekend, save 50%, $24.99 each
• Home Electronics -- Sylvania Blu-Ray Disc Player, regular $199.99 -- this weekend, sale $159.99
• Footwear -- BOGO Clearance, buy 1, get 2nd at 50% off regular and clearance prices

In our home, Lucas drinks one of three things--water, milk, or watered down juice. The kiddo loves his milk though so mostly, that is what he drinks. It's a good thing too because milk is an important source of vitamins and minerals. In fact, milk provides nine key vitamins and minerals! For the Summer though, I like to come up with new ways for Lucas and the rest of us to drink our milk. The other day I told you guys about how we've become addicted to smoothies {LOL}--they are a delicious way to drink your milk! Not to mention that they are such a treat in the Summer!

Mom Central recently told me about the website, WhyMilk.com that is literally a wealth of information about milk. It is a really cool site that you should check out if you are also looking for creative ways to get your kids to drink their milk. WhyMilk.com has you covered with recipes from breakfast to dinner and I saw some really yummy looking smoothie recipes too! If your child doesn't like milk, why not add milk to their soup, oatmeal, or mashed potatoes? They won't even notice it's there, but they will still reap all of the nutritional benefits!

My favorite section of the website is the tips and tools--especially the Value Tools where milk goes head-to-head with other drinks. According to WhyMilk.com, "one 8-ounce glass gives you nine essential nutrients and costs about a quarter, on a gallon basis. Other beverage options easily fall short on nutrients and can cost up to seven times more." They even say that it can take up to EIGHT GLASSES of other beverages to even come close to the high nutritional value of milk! Pretty amazing, huh? You could say that milk is a "nutritional bargain"!


Of course, milk is important for everyone--not just kids! So, the moral of the story is Drink Milk! And, check out WhyMilk.com for tips and ideas on getting more milk into your diet!

If you follow my blog, you probably know that Lucas has eczema. Many babies and kids do--it's very common actually. In the USA, 8.6 million kids under 14 suffer from eczema or dermatitis. No matter how common though, it is very uncomfortable and can sometime even be painful for kids. As a result, I am always on the hunt for products that at the very minimum don't irritate Lucas' sensitive skin. Ideally, what I prefer to find are products that soothe and help heal his eczema, but those finds are rare. That's why I was so happy to discover Exederm and wholeheartedly agreed to review the baby skincare line.

Exederm's approach to skincare is a simple one {in my mind, simple is always best!}--avoid irritants and chemicals that trigger eczema flare ups. That's why Exederm uses only the mildest ingredients for their skincare.


Exederm contains:

• No Fragrance
• No Color or Dyes
• No Parabens
• No Lanolin
• No Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• No Propylene Glycol
• No Formaldehyde
• No Phthalates

Exederm sent me their entire baby skincare line for me to review and it definitely WORKS! I received the baby bath wash, lotion, intensive moisturizer, baby oil, and shampoo. Let me start with how these smell. They literally smell how I think "odorless" should smell like. Like nothing. Amen. No fragrances! The bath wash is wonderful because it is creamy and non-drying. The lotion is hydrating, but still light and non greasy. Even the intensive moisturizer is non greasy, but it really works to heal eczema patches. Lucas had a couple of small, scaly patches on his back and within a few days of using the intensive moisturizer, they were gone. None of the products irritated his skin at all--only baby soft skin! All of the products are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Moms who have kids with eczema will understand where my excitement comes from! Products like these {that actually work} are very hard to find! To give you an idea, here's a visual of how Exederm's lotion compares to some other leading brands:


I am not the only one that is raving about Exederm either! In September 2008, the National Eczema Association honored Exederm with the first of 7 'Seal of Acceptance' awards! To read their review of Exederm, click here, but just a heads up--they gave Exederm 5 out of 5 stars! Exederm also makes skincare products for adults with sensitive skin so make sure to check them out too!

Want It: Exederm products can be purchased online and start at $11.99.