With Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, everyone’s mind is on “that someone special.”

This new DVD from Scholastic Storybook Treasures, The Valentine’s Collection…Featuring One Zillion Valentines, celebrates the special relationships we all hold dear — between classmates, between friends, between family.

This collection includes five animated stories about friendship:

- One Zillion Valentines
- Goggles
- A Letter to Amy
- Will I Have a Friend
- Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

Two of these, Goggles and A Letter to Amy, are stories written and illustrated by the beloved Ezra Jack Keats.

Like with all other Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVDs, The Valentine’s Collection…Featuring One Zillion Valentines includes Scholastic’s read-along capabilities to encourage reading skills and comprehension.

It’d make the perfect little accompaniment gift for your little ones or classroom this Valentine’s Day! You can purchase The Valentines Collection directly from Scholastic/NewKideo’s website for $14.95.

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product at no cost from Scholastic/NewKideo in exchange for my honest review. I received no other product or monetary compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The series – 27 titles and growing – enables future travelers to reach across the globe and visit other people and cultures, all from a child’s point of view.  Always focusing on two children from differing households, one urban, one rural, and narrated by children, Families of the World DVDs invite viewers to follow two families’ daily routines, introducing both the similarities and differences that exist between them, as well as us.

In Families of Germany, meet seven-year-old Sophia from the village of Reimershausen, who lives with her parents, sister Johanna and brother Simon. After a breakfast of bread, cheese and jam made from the fruit in their garden, she is off to school where she and her 19 classmates study English and biology among other subjects. Sophia studies guitar after school when she’s not helping out at a neighbor’s farm where twice a week she feeds cows and collects eggs from the chickens. Following dinner, she heads back to school for crafts and skits. During the weekend her family eats breakfast together, then enjoys activities – this particular weekend they are celebrating St. Martin’s Day, visiting Marburg Castle and attending her sister’s choral concert. A bedtime story from mom and dad and it’s off to sleep!

Ole is ten years old and lives in the capital city of Berlin with his parents, two brothers and two tortoises. It’s Halloween, so we get to tag along as Ole carves pumpkins, prepares treats for his neighbors before taking two trains to spend the day uptown, where we see conversation bikes, Segues and tour boats on the river. Upon their return, they head out for some trick-or-treating. The next day it’s back to school where Ole studies English and math while his dad, an engineer, works at a jet plane factory and mom teaches at an animal museum. After school it’s time for homework and dinner before heading off to handball practice. It’s been a long day, so bedtime is a welcome event!

In Families of Philippines, meet 13-year old Khim, a boy who lives on the rural island of Cebu with his grandparents, aunt and her two children. Living close to the coast, see the dozens of outrigger boats Khim points out as he explains how the fisherman collect the fish that he and his family eat nearly every night. Awaking early in the morning from his sleeping mat, Khim bathes, eats, and then makes the 10-minute walk to his public school, which boasts over 10,000 students. On the way home from school, he stops in the local video arcade to play games with his friends. Later at home, he completes his chores, which include feeding their goats, collecting firewood and cooking the rice for dinner.

Shahani, 7, lives in the capital city of Manila, a thriving city boasting many modern skyscrapers. Living with her mom, dad and older sister, the early riser (5 a.m.!), gets help from mom getting started in the morning before she’s off to school, where she wears a name tag to help the teachers with the over 5,000 students. During the 10 months she attends school, she studies English among other subjects. Mom shops for fresh fish and vegetables every day while Dad works as a children’s costumed birthday party entertainer and also teaches dance, which Shahani also studies (and excels – she won a local competition and was featured on television). Enjoying adobo stew for dinner and mango for desert, she and her sister welcome friends over in the evening for games and fun, then it’s off to bed for rest before her big test the next day!

We loved these DVD presentations! We found that life in Germany is not too far off from how we live here in America. Living in Philippines, however, offers many differences in daily living. We sponsor a child in the coastal area of the Philippines, so it was neat to watch Khim’s story and imagine our sponsored child’s daily life not much unlike his. Our children were mesmerized at the display of cultural traditions, favorite foods, and entertainment enjoyed by kids in these countries. As a parent, I am super excited to open their horizons to other people’s cultures globally, as I believe my own worldview was broadened as a child thanks to similar exposure and educational methods.

These DVDs can be ordered for $29.95 each from Families of the World’s website or by calling 1-800-765-5885. Each DVD includes a free PDF Teacher’s Guide, which features the script, copy-ready maps, discussion and activity guides, recipes, glossaries and more.

Win it!

Courtesy of Families of the World, Master Communications, and Andrea Blain PR, one of you will win a copy of both of these two new DVDs!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, another Families of the World DVD title your kids would enjoy watching.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close this contest at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011. US entries/addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #4, Kimbuckjr!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above products at no cost from Andrea Blain PR/Master Communications per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Re-released this past spring, Shabby Chic continues to be at the forefront of favorites when it comes to how-to books on interior decor.

Whether you’re already a fan of the distressed white furniture, artfully hung empty frames on the wall, sparkling chandeliers exemplifying the elegant minus the stuffy…or just venturing into the idea of this style, Ashwell’s book is the only guide on the subject you’ll need to get started (in my opinion).

I know that, when I was first married (in the year 2000), Shabby Chic was one of my favorites of all time. Ashwell’s artfully cluttered, “grandmotherly style” appealed to my senses and my desires to make my very first home (as a married woman) a warm and inviting one.

Ashwell celebrates the things about the shabby chic style that makes fearful, newbie decorators cower. Who says it all has to match exactly? Why does it have to be brand new? What would a lighter, fresher coat of paint do to revamp a worn and tired piece? And how can we save some dough?

From handy tabletop tips for entertaining to pillow fringe varieties to how to polish the dingy to the essentials of a cozy couch throw, Ashwell makes this decorating style look seamless yet breathlessly effortless and easy.

You can purchase this photo-rich book (now in paperback), published by HarperCollins, from these online retailers.

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above product at no cost from HarperCollins per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own.  I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Its insistence on covering and blanketing a wide variety of interior decorating styles and tastes is what makes this book so delicious. There’s inspiration for everyone here — and specific ideas for those who know know what they want and seek it out between its front and back covers.

Whether you’re naturalist, mid-century modern, shabby chic, Swedish minimalist, or strictly traditional, there’s something in Decorate to tickle your fancy.

Quite a number of the photos and show spaces incorporate a number of styles effortlessly together into a beautiful blend.

The basics of interior decoration are covered in a well laid-out manner: Space, determining personal style (and each style’s definite guidelines), small details. More individualized studies follow, including a room-by-room tour of several example spaces and how you can apply the put-forth theories and styles within each room within your own home.

“Case Studies” are intermingled throughout, offering expanded topics about flexibility within spaces, adding color effectively, and attractive yet useful storage solutions.

The textile patterns are dreamy and inspirational and the book is full of full-color, high-res photos to pore over. I love the numbered lists and quotes throughout — makes it a coffee table-worthy book that can be picked up, not once, but hundreds of times. Every time I find something else I love within its pages.

You can purchase Decorate, a substantial hardbound volume, from Chronicle Books directly for $35 or look for it at bookstores online or near you.

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above product at no cost from Chronicle Books per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Now I usually don’t go all “Southern” in my review writing.

But y’all.

I have come across quite possibly one of the most “together” journals/helps for “getting and keeping it all together,” and I just can’t keep quiet about it.

What am I talking about?

Stephanie O’Dea’s Totally Together Journal.

Published by Penguin Group, this new journal by the NY Times bestselling author and popular mom blogger O’Dea will, if followed, can quite possibly whip any home/life/schedule into shape in a snap!

I am all about keeping a planner. I’m all about becoming more organized. What I’m not good at is scheduling things so as to 1) not get overwhelmed, 2) not become so type-A that no one wants to be around me, and 3) not miss anything. (Like….did you know that if you never remember to change out your air conditioning/heating intake filters it’s very bad for your heating and cooling system?)

It’s seemingly little things like that that are BIG in Stephanie’s book, big enough to warrant a gentle nudge/reminder every few weeks….a dose of discipline, but one that’s done in a fashionable and fun way.

Who doesn’t love to check off things from their to-do list? This journal is filled with tons of checkboxes….little tasks that help your home run smoothly, make your schedule more efficient, and even make sure you take time for YOU, Mom (she calls these weekly tasks of a more personal nature the “WoMom” reminders).

Daily, weekly, and quarterly tasks are all laid out for you — no pre-planning needed. Family meeting ideas are jotted down to make sure those living underneath your roof are all in sync and on board with the new, more organized family plan. Fun and inspiring quotes line the bottom of the page, and each week has large daily blocks for writing in whatever you need to accomplish.

You’ll also find within Totally Together:

• Seven daily chores that anyone in the family can do in just minutes
• Yearly, seasonally, monthly, and weekly chores divided into bite-sized chunks
• Household tips and cleaning shortcuts
• Guide for setting up meal plans
• Fun, fast recipes
• Reproducible grocery list with check boxes
• An action plan for keeping the entire family organized

The spiral-bound Totally Together retails for just $15 and is pliable enough and small enough to be able to be crammed into any purse, diaper bag, or laptop case. (Amazon sells it for less….look for it wherever books are sold. It’s a worthwhile investment…I guarantee it!)

Win it!

Courtesy of Penguin Group, one of you will win your very own Totally Together Journal!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, something helpful or noteworthy you learned from Stephanie O’Dea’s Totally Together website!

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close this contest at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #68, Rajee!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above product at no cost from Penguin Group per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

If you have kids that go here and there and everywhere during the week, Mabel’s Labels is for you.

If you love cute things, Mabel’s Labels is also for you.

Mabel’s Labels is a mom-founded company that creates superior quality, durable labeling products. It’s “labels for the stuff kids lose!”®

Since its start in 2003, Mabel’s Labels, headquartered in Canada, has been committed to fine quality and over-the-top customer service. The Mabel’s Labels line includes dishwasher-proof, washer-and-dryer-proof, dishwasher and microwave-safe labels for most everything kids need to tote.

Mabel’s Classic labels include Sticky Labels (for lunchboxes, baby bottles, sippy cups, portable electronic gadgets, and much more) and Skinny-Minis, just right for pencils and small toys. Tag Mates make keeping up with your child’s athletic wear, jackets, rain slickers and other apparel a snap. Iron-Ons are available, as well. (And let’s not forget the Shoe Labels!) These are just some of the fine products offered by Mabel’s Labels. Most come in a wide variety of colors and designs.

Mabel’s Labels are available separately or in combo packs.

We were recently contacted about receiving the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo. I jumped at the chance to see these labels in person that I’ve heard so many great things about!

The Ultimate Back-to-School Combo includes the following:

• 50 Tag Mates™
• 40 Skinny-Minis™
• 16 Shoe Labels
• 2 Teeny Tags™

The Tag Mates are already stuck on our daughter’s coats, jackets, and ballet apparel:

The Shoe Labels and Teeny Tags have also found homes:

I can’t tell you how versatile the Skinny-Minis are….they’re probably my favorite!

Each Ultimate Back-to-School Combo is available for $42 from Mabel’s Labels’ website. Ordering is a snap (and fun, I might add) and the turnaround time is exceptional.

Fingers are crossed for a school year without lost or left items…but if something gets left behind, Mabel’s Labels has us covered. *grin*

(Check out Mabel’s Labels on Facebook!)

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above products at no cost from Mabel’s Labels per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

If you have pets, chances are, you have stains.

Even the most well-trained dogs and cats can have accidents.

Or then there’s those rainy days, and there’s no way you can keep your puppy from dragging mud (and who knows what else!) onto your carpet via his paws.

Thank goodness there’s a product out there that can handle the toughest pet stains and odors: Simple Solution!

Simple Solution, who has been making pet stain and odor products for over 30 years, sent over a bottle of their OXY CHARGED Stain & Odor Remover for us to try.

I knew right away that our lower den would have the most spots, since it’s where we pass through going in and out with our dog (and where he sleeps at night).

Here was my spot to tackle first:

I applied the OXY CHARGED Stain & Odor Remover and let it sit for five minutes, as directed. The smell was pleasant and I didn’t feel the need to wear protective gloves since the ingredient list was quite short.

After a light scrubbing, no trace of these stubborn stains remained on our carpet:

I believe I’m really going to like this product! With both a dog and a cat inside, I know I’ll be using it often. I was pleased to see that it offered a quick cleanup with no sticky residue. Here are some other facts about the OXY CHARGED Stain & Odor Remover:

• Triple-oxy powered formula penetrates deep to destroy stains and odors — FAST!
• Eliminates pet re-marking
• High-impact odor neutralizers completely and permanently remove old and new pet-related odors
• Stronger than many professional carpet cleaning formulas
• The ONLY formula with both triple-oxy and double-aldehyde power

Pushbutton the dog (and us, his owners) say “thanks” to Simple Solution for making cleaning the house a little bit easier!

Want to know where to buy Simple Solution products? Most major pet retailers — but check here to see exact locations near you.

Win it!

Courtesy of Simple Solution, one of you will win a bottle of Simple Solution OXY CHARGED Stain & Odor Remover!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, something you learned on Simple Solution’s website (or another product of theirs you need at your house).

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011, at 11:59pm EST. US mailing addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #32, Amie D!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above product from Simple Solution at no cost per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Looking for a way to keep your kids’ math skills sharp through the summer?

Educational Insights has a fun, electronic solution: Math Slam!

This portable electronic game allows for several types of math practice on varied ability levels:

- Sequencing
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Missing/mystery numbers (solving for the unknown)
- Triple addition and subtraction

Volume control allows for play in any setting, as well as a handy headphone jack. The large, transparent, colored buttons with LCD numbers showing underneath let your child get fully active as he/she goes through mathematics drills! For four of the five games, problems that receive wrong answers are repeated at the end of the game. The end of each round gives visual results of elapsed time, helping increase both accuracy AND speed!

You can order Math Slam from Educational Insights directly

Math Slam is best suited for kids ages 6-11, so it’s something share-able and fun, not to mention able to grow with your child’s math ability.

You can order Math Slam from Educational Insights directly for $39.99, or use this store locator to find stores that carry Educational Insights near you.

Win it!

Courtesy of Educational Insights, one of you will win Math Slam!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, another Educational Insights item your children would love.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest on Monday, June 13th, 2011, at 11:59pm EST. US mailing addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #87, R Hicks!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above product from Educational Insights at no cost per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Brand new from French author/illustrator Hervé Tullet is a truly interactive book that kids (of all ages) will adore!

Press Here is a book that invites little hands to touch — and also press, shake, tilt and blow air. The painted circles on each page “respond” to the commands and new surprises await on the following page.

Press Here

Our children were mesmerized and transfixed at first, then became giddy with excitement when they realized that, with their imagination, the dots on the pages really were “responding” to their actions! Press Here is fun to read all together or for occupying time on one’s own.

You can order Press Here directly from Chronicle Books for $14.99 — or look for it wherever books are sold near you!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed product at no cost per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Is your home a prime example of organizational malfunction?

Do you find yourself wishing that you had an extra hour in a day, but if you did, you’d have no clue as how to fill that hour?

Then Pretty Neat might just be for you.

Expertly written by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch (creators of buttoned up organizational products), Pretty Neat is a concise guide to getting your priorities, goals, home, and office in order….as well as tips on giving up perfection.

Ah. Perfection. It’s a word that used to mark every day of my life. I strove for it, many times in vain, and it never did seem to happen. (Gee, I wonder why?) This book is music to the ears of any perfectionist (or recovering perfectionist), letting you know that “nearly neat” is sometimes neat enough.

I was super excited to read and review Pretty Neat. It couldn’t have come at a more opportune time: Right at the crunch of tax season. We have an accountant to file for us, but that doesn’t mean that I can just tote over a big bin of mismatched papers. I learned several tips on reducing paper clutter and filing more effectively, so that next year my tax preparation routine will hopefully be even simpler and less stressful!

Inside the pages of Pretty Neat you’ll learn:

~ How to let go and delegate (and then let go again)
~ How to narrow down your priorities and look at your short-term and long-term goals, preventing becoming frozen due to being overwhelmed by tasks
~ How to know which organizational tools and products to purchase, things you’ll actually use, to prevent excess spending on just more “stuff”
~ How to tame areas of your home that tend to grow exponentially: The toy bins, the paper inbox, etc.

While reading Pretty Neat, I’ve also been inspired to:

~ Clean out my email inbox and purge my RSS feeds
~ Limit the number of toys in circulation to reduce overall playroom clutter
~ Create a no-fuss, go-to menu list/recipe collection for simpler meal planning

Check out the Pretty Neat page on buttoned up’s site for video tips from the book, like this one:

You can purchase Pretty Neat from buttoned up’s company page, as well as via Amazon and other major book retailers!

Win it!

Courtesy of buttoned up and via Global Influence, one of you will win a copy of Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch’s Pretty Neat!

(By entering, you’ll also have a chance to win a random drawing across all participating blogs to win a $200 same-as-cash gift card plus a selection of buttoned up products — approximately $50 in value!)

Here’s how to enter:

1. MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, your biggest organizational challenge/area within your home.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest on Saturday, March 19th, 2011, at 11:59pm EST. US mailing addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #9, Jayedee!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed product from buttoned up through Global Influence at no cost per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I also gained entry into a contest among bloggers for a gift card and buttoned up products. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”