I'm a full-time mummy

(* Article first published as Book Review: Mealtime by Elizabeth Verdick, Illustrated by Marieka Heinlen on Blogcritics.)

I have the privilege of reviewing the latest book from the Toddler Tools™ Board Books series by Elizabeth Verdick (illustrated by Marieka Heinlen) and below is my review of the book...

Title: Mealtime
Author: Elizabeth Verdick
Illustrated by: Marieka Heinlen
Publisher:  Free Spirit Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-57542-366-1
Board book, full-color: 24 pages
Dimension: 7" x 7"

Description from the product page:
"Mealtime—“Yummy-in-the-tummy time”—is an opportunity to teach young children two major personal and social skills: nutrition and table manners. This cheerful board book sets the stage to guide little ones toward healthy eating and positive mealtime routines—and to make time shared around the table pleasant for all. Simple but important mealtime routines come to life as the toddlers in this book remember to wash their hands, use a napkin and silverware, stay at the table, and eat healthy foods. Toddlers also learn the one big rule for mealtime: Always try one bite (“You just might like it!”).

Parents and caregivers want toddlers to develop healthy eating habits and table manners. With Verdick’s keen ability to speak directly to little ones and Heinlen’s delightful, appealing illustrations, Mealtime offers the perfect tool to engage little ones in a happy, healthy time at the table.

Part of the award-winning Toddler Tools™ series, Mealtime can be shared before (or even during) the desired “time,” or whenever toddlers need encouragement with social skills and daily routines and transitions."

I love all the books in the Toddler Tool series and I'm so glad to be able to review this latest book!

In case you don't know, since early this month, I've been blogging more about my toddler's meals, writing down and posting pictures of his meals whenever I can, as a way to discipline and motivate myself to be stricter in preparing his meals and to include more variety and nutritious stuff in his meals too.

So this book comes to me at the right time! Prior to this book, we have established some of our usual meal time routines for Ben.

With this book, I hope I can teach Ben to use a wet handkerchief (to wipe off the mess), and I'm very interested in trying to get him to try the one big rule for mealtime: Always try one bite (“You just might like it!”).

In my opinion, the Toddler Tools series are a good choice for parents to use with their children because of the positive message they bring!

You can get this book from Free Spirit Publishing, Amazon and many more.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a softcopy of the book by Free Spirit Publishing in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

I am a  fan of comfortable and pretty looking tops. Call me boring but when I was still working, most of my casual tops that I own, I could also wear it during my casual, off the working days. In Malaysia, it's pretty much summer all year round and to be wearing a clothing which you feel comfortable in, I think that is what matters most.

And now, as a pregnant mother (7 months now), our wardrobe styles are much more limited but that should not be a hindrance to us in being a stylish and yet looking comfortable as a preggy mum with modest clothing.

I mean, there are lots of comfortable, pretty looking and yet stylish and cute tops that a pregnant mum like me could wear! Just look at some of this tops (they may not be marketed for pregnant mums but hey, I think it'd look great on preggy me!):

Pretty camisole to die for! * Image from http://www.downeastbasics.com/feelinfancycami.aspx

Gorgeous Rosette Tank * Image from http://www.downeastbasics.com/rosettetank.aspx

Now the good thing about owning tops like this is you can mix and easily match it with your other clothings - skirts, pants, jeans and so on. I remember back in my working days, I would wear a cardigan or jacket over a camisole and still look professional in it. There were times when I would even wear a nice top over a sleeveless dress.

So what about you? What is your fashion style or tips you can share with me?

** Disclosure:  I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. All thoughts, opinions and words are 100 % my own.

I was so excited to be able to review this app on my iPad! Last year, I had the chance to review the picture book and to be able to review the same book in ebook and interactive version now? Whoaaa... love it! I was already a happy mum when we reviewed the printed book as Ben showed some signs of readiness in approaching the potty. Prior to that Ben would not even go near a potty and prefer to continue using his diapers.

* Title: Once Upon a Potty: Boy
* Price: $2.99
* Category: Books
* Updated: May 31, 2011
* Current Version: 1.08
* Size: 19.5 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: Oceanhouse Media, Inc.
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
* Extra Info: The first in a licensing partnership with child matters media and renowned author and illustrator Alona Frankel, Once Upon a Potty picture books, audio editions and videos have sold more than 5 million copies in the US alone and have been translated into many languages, Publisher’s Weekly repeatedly listed them as #1 (Boy) and #3 (Girl) in its all-time bestselling hardcover childcare charts. 

Description from the product page:

"For decades, Alona Frankel’s toilet learning classics have been helping parents and children conquer the developmental leap from diaper to potty. Narrated by his mother's voice, Joshua learns about different body parts and functions, and figures out what the potty is (and isn't) used for. This patient, loving and humorous Boy edition encourages children to learn through play and empowers parents and caregivers of all ages. Follow Joshua through his stages of discovery, and enjoy the many delightful hidden audio surprises throughout the story. Discover what millions of book and video lovers already know: "Once Upon a Potty" is "...one small step for mankind, but a giant one for your family."

Special features only available in this omBook include vibrant original artwork, picture/word association, text and song lyric highlighting, professional audio narration, fun sound effects, and a scene-by-scene original music score. Three reading modes include Read It Myself, Read To Me, and Auto Play. Plus, two fun new music modes, The Potty Song and Sing-Along, allow young children and their caregivers to sing the jazzy tune themselves or follow the recorded performers."

Pictures below taken of Ben when we tried the app:

Ben was surprised to see the book on mummy's iPad and kept on pointing to the boy on the screen and telling me 'Boy! Potty!'

What's good?

* Everything remains the same as per the printed book version, though there is the additional potty song in the app version now!

* I love the app! It is engaging and interactive and I love that we can also touch the objects in each page on the screen and the words pop out to tell you what it is!

What's not so good?

* The potty song is not so clear and even though I have set the volume to the max, I still can't hear the words clearly.

You can purchase the "Once Upon a Potty: Boy" app from the iTunes App Store.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the promo code by the sponsor to redeem the application for free from iTunes Store in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous iPad Apps reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My iPad App Reviews"