Here's the thing, I know that this blog paints me as the hardcore booze hound that is always telling you all TMI.
But I'm also have the soft mom side, the one that kisses boo-boos and plays with Diana's hair as she falls asleep in my lap. So when Penpal Notes approached me about trying out their product I thought it sounded cute.
When I got the package it was during a month that Diana was getting a lot of movies in the mail (thanks to great grandma) so she followed me around, expecting to have a new plaything. I was hoping to surprise her with these cards, but she spotted the Panda...and it was all over.
"What's that?"
"They are postcards that I will mail to you."
"....but....I'm right here!"
I decided that I would put them in her lunch so that she could get them sooner.
There are multiple themes you can pick from, from animal facts to info on American presidents. I had picked Animal Facts. Her first card was an intro card, explaining that she would be following Tej the Panda as he learned about different types of animals. On the back was a place for me to write her a quick note and a place for an animal "stamp". I wrote a little "Hope you had a nice day" note and slipped it into her lunchbox.
When I picked Diana up from school I asked her how her lunch was;
"I didn't eat my sandwich, I'm saving it for later. And there was a note in my lunchbox!"
"Do you know what it said?" I was hoping she would have asked her teacher to read it to her, but it appears she wanted to keep it a secret from her friends. I found it sweet. At the house I read her the animal fact and what I had wrote;
"...I love you, from Mommy."
"Awwww that's soooo sweet!"
I wasn't sure if she was mocking me or if she was sincere.
My official review
This is an adorable product for anyone that has young kids in their lives, whether it is your child/niece/nephew/grandkid/godchild/etc. In these modern times we seem to lose touch with our kids earlier and earlier. Adults are competing with the internet, TV, video games, cell phones, and *shudder* Hannah Montana..... These cards are a nice way for you to let a child know that you are thinking about them while educating them at the same time! I especially recommend this product for any kid that will have/had a new baby added to the family. Older siblings tend to feel left out of the spotlight when a new baby is added to the mix and these cards can let them know that you still see them as a special little person that you love and care about.
You excited yet?
Good! Because the lovely people over at Penpal Notes have given me 3 packages of 40 cards to giveaway! I also have a bunch of cute bookmarks full of facts that double as coupons for a $1 off of a set of cards!
To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me a little about what kid you would like to send a little extra love and education. I will pick a THREE grand prize winners and FIVE runners up on 4/17.
Since this giveaway is about kids I would also like to use it was a chance to raise money for a good cause. I am sure that many of you have been reading Tweets all day about Maddie Spohr. She was a beautiful little girl that passed away today. Her mother is active with the March of Dimes and I know they have asked for donations to the group instead of flowers.
I also know that the lovely Mermanda has joined a group to walk for Maddie at her local March of Dimes walk in May. Because of the short notice she will be needing as many donations as she can get. I figured I could help her out a little.
For every comment I receive for this giveaway I will donate a dime for Mermanda's/Maddie's March of Dimes.
Please, please, help spread the word!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2.png)
25 comments:
Both of my kids love getting mail of any kind. This would awesome for their grandparents or aunts to be able to send them since they are all so far away.
I would pass them on to my mom so she could send them to my stepbrother's little girls. They adore getting mail!
I'll link to this post and ask people to leave a comment for Mermanda's March of Dimes walk.
Aw, Girlie, I've been reading for awhile and you sound like a fabulous mother. Don't sell yourself short.
I would love to send those to my 2 adorable nieces in New Orleans who I miss ohhhh sooooo much.
Thank you so much for your support! You are a gem.
I would love to send these to my goddaughter. She just turned 5 and loves mail more than anything! What a cool giveaway :)
Hi! I love your blog/ twitters. Just wanted to support the MOD cause. I'll link you up too!
Here's 10 cents.
And another 10. And I'll be tweeting about this too.
I would give them to my daughter. She is starting kindergarten next year and is already starting to read, so I think she would enjoy having something special to read.
As a working mom, I also struggle to find ways to let my kids know when I'm not with them that they are always on my mind. She is a little nervous about kindergarten, primarily because her 'lovey' (a little stuffed bunny that has been loved ragged) will not be able to go to kindergarten with her. I think having something special from Mommy in her lunch box would help her feel loved and safe as she goes through this new change in her life.
You are an awesome Mommy!!!
Adriana- My parents live 300 miles away from Diana and they send her books all the time. Now whenever I get a package she assumes it's for her.
Mandy- thank you for linking to me!!!
Nicotine Queen- thanks for the mommy love :)
Mermanda- no problem babe, anything I can do to help!
Jenn- I knew you would get a kick out of this giveaway! You love your little lady so much!
Cheddar Fish- thank you so much for helping to spread the word!
stealthnerd- you are so sly ;)
Kyra- Penpal Notes should use that statement on their website! That's one of the reasons their product is so great!
What a cute idea. My mom would sometimes add a note to my lunch as a child and I remember just being over the moon for them. I love that these are also educational and serialized. I would love to share these with my young nephews who are homeschooled in Florida and LOVE getting mail.
Also, I love your fundraising effort. You are always SO very good about spreading the word for good causes and helping out those in need. Nice work!
I wanted to comment to assist your fundraising effort. It is always so hard to see children suffer. My thoughts and prayers are with Maddie's family. As a mother to a six month old, this breaks my heart.
What a cool idea! My niece would love to get these in the mail!
What a nice way to help the March of Dimes. Here's my 10 cents!!
Awww! These are adorable!
Who would I send them to? Well, my little cousin suffers from a kind of autism, yet he LOVES to read and he loves animals. I think he'd enjoy them.
(And here's my dime to little Maddie!)
I think all parents should put notes in their kids' lunches. My dad did that once in a while when I was little. He'd write a note pretending to be my stuffed penguin. Secretly, I knew it wasn't really my dad but the penguin channeling through him though.
This part:
Adults are competing with the internet, TV, video games, cell phones
...bugs me. Adults aren't "competing with", they're allowing. And yeah, some might say I'm not a parent so I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I know I'm a bitch who has to win regardless of the costs, so I kinda think I do. :D
I don't know if our girls would enjoy them yet, but I can always send it to my niece. :)
You're a great mom, don't sell yourself short! Besides, electronic entertainment falls short of spending time with mom. At least that's how it feels when my 14 year old daughter comes to lay in my lap one way or another because 'she needs love'. :D
RebeccaC- *blushes*
Mary- thank you for commenting!
Kylie- I bet your nephew would love them too :)
Andy- These would be perfect for him!
Prin- oh hon.....trust me, we are competing. Unless you are going to have no TV or computer in your house & not let them go to anyone's house that has electronics, you are competing. It sucks, but if you acknowledge the "competition" it makes your job a little easier.
Jidai- you can save them for your girls ;)
Chelle- I hope Diana still wants a little mom love when she is 14 ;)
I would love to send those to my niece, Rachel. She would get such a kick out of getting mail!
Thanks for helping raise money for March of Dimes. We have had two students in our school building pass away this year. The loss of a child is impossible to deal with.
I love that this comment is worth 10 cents. Feels like I'm doing something worthwhile while I'm reading people's blogs instead of cleaning.
Great review! I can't enter because I freelance for PenPals, but just wanted to say thanks for giving our product a chance and I'm glad Diana liked them. :)
www.penpalnotes.com
I donated when i worked at UPS because the company matched every donation from employees
I don't FEEL tardy.
i think ur spot on, the older sibling often feels neglected and the extra effort to connect may not overtly seem appreciated, but believe me that in those quiet, alone moments it does not go unnoticed and unread. it seemed a bit cheezy at 1st.
I am doing the President series with my son (8yr old). i have to remind myself to ask him at the end of day (when i have time away from number 2... 2yrs old) what new prez info he has learned... plus i am learning a few things myself.
21st Century Dad
10 cents!
The death of a baby is incredibly painful for a family. I can't imagine anything worse. We have been thinking about Maddie and the Spohrs all week.
Post a Comment