toddler time |

Ma Jest Kids-Houston Happenings

June 16, 2016 By Callie 1 Comment

Ahhh summer and it already feels like it’s 100 outside-yikes. I keep putting jeans on to go outside like I have forgotten we live at the threshold of Hades temperature wise! We have fun the cutest little place over in Sugar Land to beat the heat and help Mama keep sane. Majest Kids!

Majest Kids is located in Sugar Land, TX and it’s right off the freeway so super easy to find. This place is just for littles so 5 and under only. This is great for us because sometimes big kids being everywhere, especially in the summer can be overwhelming for littles uhem and me.

You simply sign in, sign a waiver-they actually will archive your waiver so you only need to fill it out once. You pay your free-for the littles only, they mark both parent and child with ultraviolet stamps and you’re in. You can actually stay all day!

There are many different play areas and the best part there are chairs, benches, and couches everywhere for caregivers to sit and watch. There’s a cute mini pillow jumper for kids to bounce on and a section of mega foam blocks for building. Row stayed there for quite awhile.

A padded enclosed play area with slides and a video game projected on the floor.

A wooden play area with slides and door and you name it.

My fav part was the jump pit filled with Styrofoam squares but mini sized.

There are bathrooms on site, nice, clean bathrooms. They also have a dimmed room with changing tables for the littliest guests. I also saw two party rooms. They alos sell diapers and wipes! SMART! Oh and socks since you have to take your shoes off-so bring a pair for littles and grownups.

They also have a complete mini cafe with healthy options and fun options and we had a pizza made to order-sadly no Dr. Pepper-wah wah.

It was so fun and I love that you can stay all day and have lunch if you want. Great for play dates and it wasn’t overcrowded at all! Happy air conditioning.

Do you have a fun place you’d like to share? Leave me a comment-I’d love to go!

The Power of Music-Emme Town

January 5, 2016 By Callie 4 Comments

I received copies of Emme Town songs in exchange for my 100% honest opinions.

Music is powerful! I know for me I remember things better sung and I have always been an advocate of songs in the classroom whilst teaching. I felt British saying whilst right there! In fact, in my former Kindergarten teacher life we had music playing in the classroom pretty much always unless we were on the carpet reading a story or writing together.

I am also a big big fan of instilling social and emotional learning in toddlers and preschoolers. Seems as though today so many parents are focused on what their child knows as opposed to who their child is. Letters and numbers can come later-hearts cannot be changed at school.

I stumbled upon Emme Town on twitter in fact! Emme Town is a collection of beautiful familiar songs with a character counts twist! The songs are sung by Emme Town townspeople such as the Jester, the Ballerina, the Fairy Godmother, and the Thinker. Emme Town’s passion and mission is to help make the world a kinder, gentler place through meaningful baby songs, kids songs and children’s music. I was so happy to have found it! Oh and let’s be honest anything that makes my threenager stop screaming in the car and teaches great moral values is a win win for me.

You can download their songs here as well as buy CD’s on the site. Our current favorite is “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” but I’m hoping our favorite will soon be “The Potty Song”-who am I kidding I live with a small dictator.

Here’s a quick peek at some of the Emme Town songs.

Oh and Emme Town hasn’t left you out! Remember how I said you could download their songs straight from their site? Well if you simply click here and go to the Emme Town site you can pick 3 count them 3 FREE downloads using the code: calliecakes and one lucky reader will be receiving a prize packet including 2 CD Pack with a coupon code for 13 downloadable songs! Don’t forget to enter below.

I love sharing fabulous things for you and your children…especially those that grow the heart!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Encouraging Young Writers

September 17, 2015 By Callie 6 Comments

Did you know that children, young children can be set on the path of loving to write? So many of us struggled through school loathing writing. As a former Kindergarten teacher I was always looking for tricks and tools to help encourage children to love to write.

The quickest and easiest way to engage writing in children of all ages is to offer them a variety of options to write with. It really is that simple. I really want Row to have a love for writing. Toddlers can be encouraged to write through drawing. That’s right because we know that the purpose of writing is to communicate an idea and drawing can in fact do that even for the youngest of children.

I am always on the lookout for super cool writing tools. Ok so I have been pretty much obsessed with pens, pencils, erasers and pens since I was in utero. I was really disappointed when I would go shopping and just couldn’t find anything cool. Something I know Row would love and want to use. Maybe I could use it too-just saying. I stumbled upon the company International Arrivals and was AMAZED by what they had to offer!

First up the left and right crayons-now these are cool. Easy to grip and smooth to color. Row loved these especially since she shows left handed tendencies. The colors allowed her to grip and use easily. Oh and the lollipop pen! It smells like orange when you write and so does the poof. How adorable.

Oh and yes that COLOR IN Book is from International Arrivals too. The paper is so much nicer and thicker than a regular coloring book and it’s bound on a spiral. This book is every 8 year old girls dream. Row uses it as a book as well, flipping through pages and pointing to animals. We had to take it to lunch yesterday.

Have an older child? A college kid? Check out this cool monster highlighters….and they are scented.

I told you I had a thing for erasers…..

International arrivals has tons of gel pens to match any kiddos love-boys and girls. I love that they carry such a variety of writing utensils so kids of every shape and size will love their products. Put these out at your writing table and watch the kids flock!

International arrivals carry so many different items and all in one place. I have even been eyeing some things for stocking stuffers oh and our next door neighbors birthday. What 10 year old wouldn’t love this……

Check out that puffy!

That’s right those are puffy pens-what does that mean exactly? It means you write, let dry, and then come back with a blow dryer and bam-puffs right up. I am sad-not sad-to say these babies are mine!!!!

What’s that you say? You need some of these goodies in your life right now…I know. Well the wonderful people over at International Arrivals are offering a $50 gift card to one reader so you can go crazy buying cool things from their site.

Warning you may spend more….What do you love to write with?

This is a sponsored post. I received items to review however, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
a Rafflecopter giveaway