Your Special Day

I have a weakness for special jewelry and similar keepsakes. I can be absorbed for ages when the craft fairs come to town. And don't even get me started on Etsy, and some of the other fabulous artists I have found online!

Michele Esposito has a unique collection at Not Just Any Old Day. Her calendar charms are crafted from 100% pure sterling silver, and are personalized by picking a specific month with a special day marked by a swarovski crystal. Birthdays, anniversaries, wedding attendant gifts, first communion - these would be a wonderful way to commemorate any special date in your life. Prices start at $98, and pieces are varied. There are necklaces and bracelets, key chains and gifts such as a cake server, baby cup, baby spoon, business card case and more. All are able to be personalized with your special day on a calendar charm.

My key chain came in the mail recently. It's delicate, and pretty and honors my son Daniel's birthday. I'm thrilled to start using it. Now if I can just keep track of my keys...

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This review is posted as part of the Momfluence Mother's Day Gift Guide for 2009.

Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage

Thanks to MomSelect, we recently received tickets to the Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage show - A Circus Comes to Town.

As H couldn't attend, I invited Daniel's buddy Murphy and Murphy's Mom to accompany us. Both boys were so excited they could hardly stand it! When I spoke with Darleen earlier in the day, Murphy had apparently told her that he was leaving his shoes on during his nap that afternoon - so he could be all ready to go!

Bursting with anticipation, the boys stayed out of their seats for most of the show. Our seats were a bit to the left, and sort of midway/to the back. This show is such a spectacle, it is hard to say that there was a bad seat in the house. The lights came down, and Daniel whirled around to Darleen and I to exclaim: This is so cool! I think a grin stayed on my face the rest of the night.

A group of engine drivers were in the audience, getting the crowd into it and we soon had Sir Topham Hatt introducing the engines themselves. The circus has come to Sodor, and Thomas must learn to work with his friends to ensure that the show goes on - without any "confusion and delay." There was a circus strongman, a trapeze artist and a clown who played pranks that Daniel still talks about: the clown jumped over the box. The performers had great voices, and the animatronic engine faces brought characters like Percy and Thomas to life on the stage. We were impressed by this quality production.

Thomas and his friends are still touring the country through August 1st. His next stop is April 28-29 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Check here to see when he is coming to a town near you, and have a fun night out with your little ones!

Happy Friday!

Hello Everyone! It is due to be 70 degrees around here, with it leaping into the 80s the rest of the weekend. I'm off to find as many ways as possible to get out of my house.

Too bad grocery shopping must be one of them...

But one bit of business - the winner of the personalized box of My Fruit Roll-ups. Congrats to Andrea M.! Andrea, please get in touch to confirm your email contact address, so that I can send you your code.

Thanks everyone for playing!

Wow! Wow!

Daniel is really into all things action figure-ish. Super heroes of all kinds, Transformers, Power Rangers, little plastic soldiers are constantly underfoot around our house. So I'm usually pretty tickled to find something he fancies that can take us in some new directions.

Sprightly little Wubbzy has a new video out. Wow Wow Wubbzy Pirate Treasure has 7 episodes full of adventures and silly songs. Wubbzy is joined by his friends Widget and Walden, as they search for buried pirate treasure. Other stories follow what happens when Wubbzy gets lost in the woods, we explore why Walden is afraid of the beach and more. A trip with the gang to the nearby town of Plaidville proves pretty interesting too.

Bubbly music, fun stories, silly characters have kept this DVD in some heavy rotation around our house recently. Thanks MomCentral for the opportunity to have a new peek into the land of Wubbzy!

"Mom? Can I Have a Snack?" (Giveaway)

This is a phrase heard often around our house. Remember Fruit Roll-ups? I remember unrolling and peeling the fruity snacks when I was a kid. They have now landed on the web as My Fruit Roll-ups. With more than 400 graphics, or even the option of uploading your own photo, artwork or logo these are truly a customizable treat. Birthday designs, pirates, princesses, snowflakes, safari, Valentine's Day hearts, Luau, Graduation designs... there are loads of possibilities. These would make great party favors!

We had a chance to try out the website, and I found it very user-friendly to step through the ordering process. Daniel has had a Guitar Hero phase going on, and so I picked a design with guitars, music notes, and the word ROCK splashed across it. Adding his photo was the final touch. Our shipment arrived, and he and his friends were tickled with the fun snack.

Win It!
I have a code for one complimentary order of My Fruit Roll-ups to give away to one lucky reader. You have a chance to get four entries:
1. Visit the My Fruit Roll-ups site and come back here to leave a comment as to how you would design your roll-ups.
2. Subscribe to Relishing the Dirt and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.
3. Follow me on Twitter, and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.
4. Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.

Giveaway ends Thursday, April 23rd. Winner to be announced Friday, April 24th.