Compound Word Learning with Fun Socks

I have a fun product to tell you about, compound word socks!  They are a fun, everyday item that can also be used as a learning tool.  Compound word socks by the Gama Family are designed to make learning fun and encouraging as children learn how to structure compound words.  Each sock represents 1/2 of a compound word and when joined together (on your child's feet) the two socks spell out the compound word.

 

I love that each individual sock has pictures to go along with it and then when you put them together they make a bigger picture of the compound word, very creative!

D's new StarFish socks

Out of the package - the design is fun and vivid

On D's feet!

D in her fun socks.

Apart - you can see that the star sock has stars and the fish sock has fish.

Together - when you put them together they also make a starfish in the middle!

These socks are fun, comfortable and there are several designs available.  D likes that you can pull them up to make them longer or push them down to make them shorter.

 Butterfly design

 Rocketship design

There is also a free, interactive app to further your child's learning.  Kids will enjoy playing the word games that were created to engage their growing minds.  D has enjoyed playing this app.  There are three sections: play, gallery and learn.  In the play section when you complete a level it will unlock the next door or level so that you can create more compound words.

 You drag and drop the individual word into the bubbles and then the compound word will be created.  Above you see the words sun and flower.

 Here you see that they created the compound word sunflower.

Once you create a word the icon appears at the top.  When you have created all the compound words possible the bubbles will be full and the next door will be unlocked.  There is one incorrect word in this first section.  D was stuck here for awhile because of this error.  The app thinks that glassesflower is a correct compound word; however, it is not.  Hopefully this can be corrected soon.  The same word is found in the gallery and learn sections.

 Here you can see that the app thinks glassesflower is a word.

 I do like the way the learn section is set up so that kids can view the individual words and the compound word it makes above.

You definitely do not have to use this app to enjoy these socks but it is a fun, free tool to have along with them.  And I think having the app helps justify the cost a bit more.   These socks are available on Amazon for $9.99 a pair and come in a number of fun combinations including ladybug, cupcake, firetruck, rocketship, starfish, butterfly, eggplant and sunglasses to name a few.  The size options are 3YR-5YR and 6YR-8YR.  D is 6 and the 6YR-8YR pair fit her well with some room to grow.

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Lalaloopsy Birthday Party

Lalaloopsy Deluxe Kit

December is always a bit of a whirlwind for me.  So much to celebrate and such a fun time of year.  B and D had a joint Lalaloopsy Sewing Birthday party this year and it was "sew" much fun!

Our Kit

I was sent the Lalaloopsy Deluxe Party Kit from Wholesale Party Supplies.  This was the perfect kit for our party because it had the basics that we needed: 16 themed napkins, 8 themed plates, 8 themed 9oz cups, set of 8 forks/spoons/knives, one set of candles, 2 sets of streamers (pink and blue) and 1 themed table cloth.

The napkins had Crumbs Sugar Cookie and her pet Mouse.  D wanted this for her cake so David matched the napkins.

 The girls each had their own cake!  D had Crumbs and mouse and B had a needle and a button to make the number 10!

 The cakes!  We used the streamers all around the house.

 Here is a close up of B's cake with the candles that came in our kit.  They were very sturdy and a little thicker than a normal candle.

 We used the cups provided in our kit to hold cutlery and straws for the party.

Fun party straws.

 A close-up of the party plates.  These plates were such a generous size I used them as food holders for the party table.  One plate had cheese and crackers, another had blueberries, etc.

 I didn't get a photo of the table with the food spread ready :(.  Here is a photo though so that you can see the tablecloth.  It did a great job adding to the theme atmosphere.

Here is an example of Mouse and Persian Cat.

For our craft guests could choose between sewing Mouse, Persian Cat or a Bird Lalaloopsy pet.  I am hoping to upload a video and make another post specifically about our craft - stay tuned.  If you are in need of a cute party idea Lalaloopsy is a fun way to go and Wholesale Party Supplies has lots of variety to help make your party the best!

Disclosure:  I was blessed to receive the Lalaloopsy Deluxe Kit for review.  All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Fun at SeaWorld's Seafari Tour

Did you know that SeaWorld San Antonio has tours?  They do!  And they have several different ones available.  Last week I was able to take B on a special birthday surprise.  We drove down to SeaWorld San Antonio and participated in their Seafari Tour, a 3 hour before the park opens tour.  We had such a blast - it was so much fun!  We were able to see SeaWorld's animal conservation center, visit the penguin encounter and the puffin area, see and feed the sea lions, visit the beluga whales and pacific white sided dolphins, visit and pet the sting rays, pet a shark, see their baby sea lions and bottlenose dolphins.  We saw so many animals it truly was hard to keep track.

 Blue-tongued Skink

 Lemur

 Lemur

 Penguin Fun

 Puffins

 

 Pacific White Sided Dolphins

 

The Beluga Whales were having playtime when we visited.

 Feeding the Sea Lions

Baby Sea Lions (about 6 months old)

 

 Sting ray touch tank

 B touching the sting rays

 The shark waiting to be pet.

B was the only kid on the tour brave enough to touch the shark.  She was surprised at how rough the shark was compared to the sting rays.

 Bottlenose Dolphins

Special things to note concerning the Seafari Tour at SeaWorld:  it is a walking tour so you will be doing a lot of walking,  it is recommended for guests 8 and older (kids must be accompanied by a paying adult), this tour is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., you will check-in at the main security gate (not the main entrance because the park is not open yet), tour by reservation only, and prices start at $20.

Perfect Linens Fern Green Second Skin Sheets

David and I really appreciate high quality sheets.  We have had some low thread count sheets in the past and a few years ago we took the plunge and decided that we needed better sheets.  I was so excited when Perfect Linens recently contacted me to review their sheets!  I chose to receive the Fern Green Second Skin sheets.

Perfect Linen's Second Skin sheets Highlights
- super soft all-cotton sheet
- airy mid-weight 400 thread-count combed Egyptian cotton
- colorfast embroidery on flats and pillowcases
- made in Portugal
- oversized to fit mattresses up to 19 inches
- cling free
- durable
- 3 embroidered patterns (ribbon, blue double stripe, and fern green)
- available in standard, queen and king sizes
- machine wash warm, tumble dry low

 Blue Double Stripe pattern

Ribbon pattern

 Fern Green pattern

 My Sheets

My sheets arrived quickly and looked even better in person than pictured on-line.  You can see them above right out of the box!  We have a king sized bed and the sheets really are generously sized to fit all mattresses well.

Our new sheets

Different angle

They look and feel really nice.

 Our bed

"Second Skin's outstanding softness is the result of a natural enzyme process which removes molecules from the cell walls of the cotton, making the fibers easier to bend.  The enzyme process is permanent so the exceptional softness cannot wash out.  Sateen-weave, with fewer yarn-locking intersections per square inch, reduces stiffness further."

I have been really impressed with the softness of these sheets.  They really do feel nice and comfortable!  They also wash really well which is important for durability and longevity which is important in our home.  I have had a great experience with these sheets and this company and I would recommend them.

Perfect Linens has graciously offered a discount code for all of my readers.  If you are in the market for new sheets, please visit Perfect Linens and use the discount code Cummins30 to save on your order!

You can check out the latest products and deals from Perfect Lines on their social pages: twitter, facebook, pinterest, and instagram.