Book Review: My Baby Compass Two-Four Years by Kathyrn Gruhn, MA, CCC-SLP

I am truly in love with this book. There is NO feeling in the world like teaching your children skills that they will use and continue to develop their entire lives. The book I received was the My Baby Compass, an Easy Program to Help Your Child Think, Speak, Move & Thrive, Two to Four (Volume .

Just flipping through it for the first time, I could definitely tell that Kathryn has 35 years of experience in Child Development. The book is simple to read and put to good use! It’s an amazing book, I seriously feel like this is a how-to guide for 2-4 year olds, lol!

I love that she teaches the value of one-on-one contact with children, and how to easily teach them through this contact. It is a nice step down from our high-tech world that usually revolves around the T.V., Smartphones, and Tablets.

There is NOTHING better than sitting down with your child and playing games while also helping them learn. If you make it fun and engaging, they will definitely love it and want more of that positive interaction.

It is very straight to the point and interactive to both the child and the parent. It makes each parent realize what skills their children should be able to do by what age, and then helps us engage in teaching them those skills with just simple games, demonstrations, and a fold out milestone checklist so we know what skills are yet to show up in our kid so we can focus on those!

This book is broken down into easy to find Chapters:

Ch. 1- “Getting to Know Your Toddler”

Ch. 2- “ “The Communication Process”

Ch. 3- “Tracking Your Child’s Progress: The Baby Compass Checklists”

Ch. 4- “My Child Did Not Meet a Milestone, Now What?”

Ch. 5- “Age-Appropriate Toys and Playtime”

Ch. 6- “Music and Rhymes for Fun and Learning”

Each checklist identifies milestones that your child should be reaching or have already been reached. They are skills, behaviors, physical developments that commonly occur around each age.

*Speech/Language

*Hearing

*Cognitive/Reasoning

*Physical

*Vision

*Social/Emotional

 

I love that the activities in this book are fun, quick ways to stimulate those skills and behaviors. It is something that you’ll both enjoy! Something that can just be added to your daily routine. Not only will your child benefit but you will also. This is special one-on-one time that will help not only learning but helping you connect on another level with them!

Throughout the book, you’ll notice certain symbols. The beginning of the book breaks these symbols down and explains them to you so that you’ll know what it means. I really like this because it tells you what to expect from certain games. Whether your child will gain help in speech, social, vision, physical, or reasoning!

It also helps you understand how to use the My Baby Compass Checklists. There is a color-coded Checklist of milestones in each booklet for these areas:

* Two-Year-old/Three-Year-Old Talks (Speech/Expressive Language) Color Code- Red

* Two-Year-old/Three-Year-Old Hears (Hearing/Receptive Language Color Code: Orange

* Two-Year-old/Three-Year-Old Understands ((Cognitive/Reasoning) Color Code: Yellow

* Two-Year-old/Three-Year-Old Moves (Physical/Motor) Color Code: Green

* Two-Year-old/Three-Year-Old Feels (Social/Emotional) Color Code: Purple

Here are some examples of what is inside the book:

Toys and playtime activities. There are other months, I am just sharing from the 37-42 months section. She is beginning to sort color, size, and shape. You can help her by having her sort all of the same colors, shapes, and sizes, naming them as she plays. Use the words “big”. “bigger”, and “biggest” in addition to “small”, “smaller”, and “smallest”. This teaches that an object can have many different attributes (color, shape, AND size).

I love that it not only shows you how to “teach” your kids, but it lets you know from a teacher/parent point of view of what they will be gaining. That way if your child is behind on a certain skill (such as Motor development) you can just focus more on those activities.

Here is a sample of one of the checklists. I love this! It is definitely amazing just as a journal for your child’s accomplishments. This is a keepsake! You could keep this so when they get older and ask “when did I do this or that?” you’ll have something to show them.

They have a baby version of this as well. I wish I had known about it. I would have gotten one for both my son and daughter. My son was really premature and I had to write all this stuff down in a regular notebook for his checkups and specialist appointments.

This book is hands down AMAZING. Not only would these books be awesome for parents but they could definitely be given to child care providers, teachers, and even relatives such as aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

 

About the Book:

My Baby Compass, Two to Four Years, is an easy program that has 275 skills with checklists and activities in five developmental areas. It will allow busy parents a quick assessment to see if their child is on target which will provide a history to share with their child's health care providers. There are corresponding simple activities to facilitate these skills, along with appropriate toys, nursery rhymes, finger plays, sign language, music selections and useful resources. This program is recommended by child development specialists. It is great for teachers, health care providers besides parents. Everything you need in one simple book.

Buy it:

My Baby Compass, an Easy Program to Help Your Child Think, Speak, Move & Thrive, Two to Four (Volume  Spiral Bound Book with pull-out checklists $39.94

You can also buy it from the Baby Compass Website

Jessica Renee

 

How to Write the Perfect Blog Post

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Jessica Renee

Influenster Sunkissed Summer Voxbox 2013 Review

 

I was excited to find out that I prequalified for the Influenster Sunkissed Summer 2013 Voxbox! Woohoo, yay me!

This Voxbox is said to be filled with Summer Fun and I definitely couldn’t wait to get my hands on the box and see what was waiting inside for me!

I got the Voxbox last week.. and Guess what was inside?

4 items that I will tell you all about below!

 

 

*Goodies Ouchless Ribbon Elastics*

The first item I pulled out of the box was the Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics. This comes with 5 Ribbons all in different colors!

These are really awesome. I love that they are all different colors. I have been a fan of non-metal hair ties for as long as I can remember. Every single time I’d wear hair ties with a metal piece on it, they’d snag my hair and they’d end up breaking after using them for awhile.

These retail for $3.99-$4.99 which is an awesome deal for something that isn’t going to pull you bald when you want to wear your hair up! Not only has this been awesome for me because I have really long hair, but for my daughter as well.

She always complains when I put her hair up in a hair tie. She says it pulls her hair! Guess who hasn’t heard any complaining since I’ve gotten these? That’s right! ME!

 

*Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream*

The second item I pulled out of the box was the Olay Fresh Effects {BB Cream} Perfecter Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15. I love that this not only has SPF 15 in it, but it’s more like a tinted moisturizer so it’s better for your skin in the summer than all out foundation!

The Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream is an all-in-one skin perfecter, suncreen, and tinted moisturizer evens tone and refreshes dullness. For flawless looking skin, get your now available in two shades: fair/light and light/medium.

I got sent the light/medium which would be too light for my skin, but it blends AMAZINGLY well. I can’t even tell that it’s light, it just soaks right in.  It looks amazing under my foundation for extra coverage AND sun protection. I have tried CC Creams in the past, but I haven’t had the chance to use a BB Cream until now.

I am glad I got a chance to try it! It’s very light on the skin and has a really nice, clean fresh scent. It smells like freshly washed hair! I love it! I love how creamy it is, yet how well it soaks in. It feels so lightweight like you don’t even have anything on the skin at all.

It refreshes the skin, and keeps it feeling clean! It also helps to brighten the skin while evening the tone and texture. It makes my skin feel SO hydrated and smooth, all while protecting it from the sun! It’s only $12.99 for a large tube!

 

*Sinfulshine with Gel Tech*

The third item I pulled from the box was the Sinfulshine with Gel Tech in “I’m Blushing”. This is a very light pink that almost looks like a tinted pink mixed with white. I love the color, it is very luscious and rich!

There are 32 shades, and they are all eye catching, beautiful, vibrant colors! I am definitely going to have to get more of these! I love the gel tech, this is actually the first shade that I’d tried, and it’s awesome. The shine is SO awesome, and it makes my nails feel so smooth and look so shiny.

It’s a steal too, at only $2.99

*Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles*

Last, but not least is the Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles. Heels are really uncomfortable for me to wear for a long time because of my arch. I swear my feet hate high heels because they have to constantly hold themselves in.

These create all day comfort for both the feet AND the arches, so your feet can be comfortable and cute. It is made out of ultra-soft gel that just makes your feet feel like it’s sinking into your feet! This makes my feet SO comfy and awesome!

It absorbs the shock that would normally go into the heel and feet. The best thing is that the cushioning is very discreet even in strappy heels. You can’t see it at all. These retail for $10.99 and you can’t beat that for the all day long comfort!

Fits comfortably in all your high heel shoes 2" and up
Pumps
Sandals
Sling-backs
Boots

 

I received this Summer 2013 Sunkissed Voxbox from Influenster, for free. The opinions in this post are completely honest!

 

Jessica Renee

Fashion Accessory Review & giveaway: WalletBe Cash-Card-Coin Accordion Wallet

WalletBe offers a huge variety of wallets, so you’ll be able to find something for everyone- men, women, younger, or older! I am in love with their Cash Card Coin Accordion wallet. I have been since I got it in the mail!

It comes in 10 different colors, so whatever you’re favorite color- most likely they have it. There is Black, Brown, Kelly Green, Fuchsia, Metallic Bronze, Ocean Blue, Orange, Purple, Red, and Teal.  Of course, I chose the green one! I love green, and I love how vibrant the green of it is!

It is very high quality! It is made out of Italian croco embossed two-toned leather. I love that they are very modern and absolutely beautiful. They are just the right size for packing by themselves, or they can fit inside your purse!

It comes with an attached wristlet if you’re going somewhere, you can just carry it with you. This would make it 10x easier on me if we are going to the mall, an amusement park, or even to a museum. I wouldn’t be loaded down with my entire purse just to have my debit/credit cards, cash, and any gift cards!

It has 10 card slots inside, so that’s quite a lot of room for storing cards of any kind! I love that it folds out in an accordion style! That means that no matter what card I’m looking for, I can find. Other wallets, I have to pick and push different cards out of the slots before I even find the one I’m looking for!

I also love that it has an elastic piece on both sides to hold cash. This wallet keeps me VERY organized and on top of things! I love it! My cash can never escape on it’s own or become lost!

I love that this wallet has a place right in the front for my Driver’s License! What’s even better is the little opening where you can slide it in and out with your thumb. I don’t know how many times I struggled getting my license in and out of other wallets because there wasn’t a way to get it out easily. There is even a hidden slot behind the license part so that you can hide big bills or whatever!
Buy it: WalletBe Cash Card Coin Accordion wallet $29.95

Connect with WalletBe:
Facebook and Twitter

The Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway
One Lucky Stylish Southern Mama Reader will win their own WalletBe Cash-Card-Coin Accordion Wallet!


Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: TRῡHAIR Volumizing Style Shapers Hair Rollers 23pc Kit

TRῡ Hair creator, Chelsea Scott, has been in the professional beauty industry for over 20 years. She has specialized in product development and the successful marketing of some of the leading hair care and skin care products that are available on the market today. After owning 2 popular salons and prestige beauty boutiques while working with over 50 of today's most popular hair brands, Chelsea felt like she couldn't find products that allowed us to recreate salon looks at home while being easy to use.

I was excited to be able to work with TruHair! I was looking through their website and was wowed that the products are build around building volume or covering the grays! I ended up choosing the TRῡHAIR Volumizing Style Shapers Hair Rollers 23pc Kit.



I had been on the lookout for some rollers, and was leaning towards hot rollers. The description on these said that they self stick, and that they create tremendous volume and lift without the heat. SO, I was excited to give it a try!


I had to practice a couple times to get it right because my hair is so long and layered, but they do add volume and curl if you set them right. You have to roll them tightly to get them to set in place. I do have to add bobbypins to some of them, but I think it’s because my hair is long and the rollers are velcro material.


I spray my hair with a heat protectant before rolling my hair in these rollers. I let them sit for a minute and then I take my blowdryer and heat my hair up with the rollers in it, and then follow with Shielo Volumizing Hair Spray!

I leave them in for 30-45 minutes while I do my skincare routine and put on my makeup. When I’m done with all that, I take these out and am truly amazed that they worked so well without heat and without anything to hold them in.

If you do feel like they are coming lose, I feel like it’s helpful to place a shower cap over the rollers so they stay in place. It’s best to use them with semi-damp hair, and spray mousse or gel before and maybe a blow-dry spray then spray with flexible hold hair spray after.

Kit Includes:
6 Small Shapers
6 Medium Shapers
6 Large Shapers
3 Jumbo Shapers
1 Tail Comb
1 Travel Pouch

Buy it: TRῡHAIR Volumizing Style Shapers Hair Rollers 23pc Kit $29.99

Connect with TRῡHAIR Online:
Twitter, Facebook, & Youtube


Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Ahava Minerals; Deadsea Algae Rich Foundation & Mineral Botanic Velvet Cream Wash

I have worked with Ahava Minerals before and absolutely LOVED their products, so I couldn’t wait to do it again. Their products are high in quality and are definitely the best in the mineral market today!



This time around I chose 2 products- which are the Ahava Minerals Deadsea Algae Liquid Foundation & Ahava Mineral Botanic Lotus and Chestnut Body Wash.

Lotus & Chestnut Body Wash

I needed a rich, moisture filled body wash to help keep my skin healthy as well as moisturized. Tanning regularly has left my skin a bit on the dry side, and skin holds a tan better if it’s well moisturized.

This is soap-free and made for sensitive skin. I don’t have sensitive skin, I just thought the smell of Lotus Blossoms would be heavenly! This leaves my skin deeply cleansed, smelling wonderful, and extremely soft.

I love the light fragrance that surrounds me while in the bath/shower and the fact that it lingers on my body afterward. I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on the smell, and they are HIGHLY surprised when I tell them that I’m not wearing any lotion, body spray, or perfume!



I love the fact that it is so creamy! It looks like a transparent lotion because it’s so rich and creamy. It lathers up very well even though it is a non-soap body wash. It doesn’t take very much at all to get clean, which is a plus. This bottle has lasted me for quite a while already!

It is calming, soothing, and very smoothing to the skin. I love the effect that it has on my skin! The lotus flower extract is what actually calms and soothes the skin.The Chestnut extract is what nourishes the skin! It definitely helps moisturize the dry skin! Even after the first week I could totally tell a difference in how hydrated my skin stays all day now.

Before I was having to apply lotion at least every two-three hours, and now I don’t have to apply lotion at all if I don’t want to. I do though, because I want my skin SUPER moisturized. I have been mixing it up with St. Ives Intensive healing and Calgon Parisian Charm. The St. Ives doesn’t have a scent, but the Calgon smells HEAVENLY!

It is gentle, soaks into the skin very nicely, and rinses off completely. There isn’t any “residue” left that I have to keep rinsing off! My skin has never felt or looked better!

Buy It: Ahava Mineral Botanic Lotus and Chestnut Body Wash

Deadsea Algae Rich Liquid Foundation

The second item I chose was the Ahava Deadsea Algae Rich Liquid Foundation. I have been hooked on this foundation since the first time I used it.



There is no possible way that it could be more flattering or complementary to my skin color. It doesn’t matter if I apply this with a sponge, a brush, or my fingers I always get flawless coverage. It is never streaky and doesn’t ball up now that’s been hitting HIGH humidity here.

This could definitely be mistaken for natural skin (or a second skin) because it isn’t visible. It blends very well. It enhances the natural health of the skin while covering up blemishes, freckles, and redness.


The foundation itself it SO thick and creamy, so it spreads very well. You don’t need very much at ALL! It wears forever too. I can put this on in the morning and by 9 pm it is still there! My skin still looks as fresh as when I applied it!


This is a smoothing foundation without being dry! It isn’t made with any oils or dyes, and contains deadsea minerals. It is made with soft focus technology which looks amazing and it great for the skin.
This allows the natural skin tone to show, and it’s shine free. This doesn’t give a made up, shiny look. It’s very matte and I like that. I have naturally oily skin, so I don’t need a foundation adding to my shininess!

It helps even out the skin tone and you only NEED this foundation. You don’t need anything under or over it for extra coverage. The coverage is perfect as it is!
Buy it: Ahava Minerals Deadsea Algae Rich Foundation $36

About Ahava Minerals:
Ahava Minerals began it’s journey in 1988 with clinical research in a rich selection of minerals to help with skin renewal. They formed AHAVA Dead Sea Laboratories and haven’t stopped since.
They now explore the richness of these natural skin-replenishing treasures and optimizing them with scientific precision in bringing the finest nature-inspired Dead Sea face and body care products to market. Through their ongoing efforts, we have rightfully earned the reputation as the definitive Dead Sea cosmetic brand.

Connect with Ahava:
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest

Beauty Review: EOS Lip Balm; Sweet Mint & Summer Fruit

EOS is an amazing company. Their products are well made, low priced, and work extremely well. I love the unique designs and colorful packaging.. so you know when I got sent 2 amazing sphere shaped lip balms to review, I was a happy camper.

I am loving the sphere (egg shape) of these lip balms. They never get lost inside my purse, so I don’t have to spend countless minutes searching and searching like I would if it were a stick lip balm. It’s also easier to hold and has a screw on top!

I was sent the Summer Fruit EOS Lip Balm and the Sweet Mint EOS Lip Balm. The Summer Fruit is in the red/orange egg and the sweet mint is in the blue! They are both amazing, yet so different in how they work.

The texture of these EOS Lip Balms are very high quality. They are very smooth whole not waxy or goopy and they are soft on the lips. The sphere shape of these Lip Balms make it SO much easier to get the entire lip area!

 

Sweet Mint

The Sweet Mint is HANDS DOWN the best chapstick for dry or sunburned lips. Since I’ve been visiting the tanning bed on a regular basis my lips were beginning to get very dry and chapped.

Regular chapstick just wasn’t working out too well. It wasn’t helping. It would moisturize and coat the dryness, but I needed something that would actually TAKE the dryness away and help it instead of just masking it!

This totally did it. This is medicated, so it does help. You can feel the mint in it, and feel a tingle sensation for a second.. ohh, it felt SO awesome! It isn’t a tingle that burns or anything.. just feels cool and you can tell it’s rejuvenating the dry skin. It smells so refreshing and invigorating! It tastes awesome too.

It leaves the lips so healthy and smooth! I couldn’t even wear lipstick before I got this because you could tell my lips were too dry and it was showing through the lipstick. Now you can’t tell and I CAN wear lipstick!

There isn’t any dryness, pain, or chapped lips anymore! This had my lips renewed and back to new in just 2 short days! How amazing is that?

Ingredients: Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Limonene**, Linalool**. *Organic. **Component of Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.

 

Summer Fruit

I LOVE the smell and taste of this! It’s a mixture of strawberry, blueberry and peach. Can you say YUM? It is so delicious tasting and smelling!

I love that these are 95% organic and do NOT contain ANY petroleum at ALL. So you get a nice moisture to the lips without any of the greasiness that comes with having petroleum as an ingredient.

Instead it contains Shea Butter and Jojoba Oils which are all natural and natural smoothers, soothers, and moisturizers! Great picks EOS! If you are looking for a SHINY lip balm, then this isn’t for you! This is to help your lips become HEALTHY and moisturized. I don’t like the shine chapsticks myself. I would rather my skin be healthy in itself, not shiny! That’s what lip gloss is for in my opinion!

These are my favorite lip balms out of my collection, and let me tell you- I have a VAST collection of lip balms and chapsticks! They are just SO well made and last forever!

Ingredients: Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract*, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract*, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract*, Linalool**. *Organic. **Component of Natural Flavor. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.

 

About the EOS Lips Balms

• Long-lasting moisture
• Shea butter & vitamin E
• Smoothes on clear
• Precisely glides on lips
• Twist-off top
• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• Petrolatum-free
• Phthalate-free
• 0.25 oz

Buy them! The Summer Fruit EOS Lip Balm and the Sweet Mint EOS Lip Balm They are 3.29 each and can be bought on the EOS website, Walmart, Target, and Amazon!

Connect with EOS Online:

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Jessica Renee