Did you know that today is National Crayon Day? Guess what, you may not be alone because I had no idea that it was either. When I was contacted by the kind people at Crayola to share this news with you, I didn't even hesitate. Mommy loves the Crayola brand and it's actually the only brand that you will find in our house. From the sidewalk chalk to the actual crayons, it's all about Crayola. You may even find some of my artistic designs scattered throughout my house as well thanks to Crayola.

Disclaimer: I received products  for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Though the product were free, opinions are 100% my very own. 


It's me again and once again I'm here to bring you something so amazingly cool it will blow your socks off! Now everyone knows that I am absolutely in love with shoes. I just love them and the more unique they are the more I love them. Mommy on the other hand has been saying that I have way too many but even she couldn't resist these. When given the chance to do a review for Wee Squeak mommy said "Yes" and I just kept pointing at them all! I couldn't decide which one I wanted to get. Mommy on the other hand decided that since we are having such nice weather lately here and with spring/summer on the way, what's the best way to show that spring is near than with some cute little sandals.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book for review. No other compensation was received. Though the book was free, opinions are 100% my very own. 


Mommy is always looking for books to enrich my christian learning experience. While we believe in God we don't always speak about Him on the blog. We do celebrate the traditional Christian holidays such as Easter, and mommy tries to instill in all of her children values that we should all live by. Those values also known as the fruits of the spirit can be found in Galatians 5: 22-23. For those who don't know what that text says I will quote it for you:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

When given the chance to review the Pups of the Spirit, mommy was more than happy to do so. While the Bible is great for adults it can be much more difficult to understand for kids. The Pups of the Spirit was written by Jill Gorey and Nancy Haller and illustrated by Deborah Melmom.

Disclaimer: I received products  for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Though the product were free, opinions are 100% my very own. 

I was introduced to Peppa Pig after hearing about it first from a friend of my mom in the UK. Since then it has been on Nick Jr and has become one of my favorite morning show. Peppa Pig follows the hilarious adventures of Peppa, a loveable little piggy, her family and all of her animal friends, including Suzy Sheep, Pedro Pony, Rebecca Rabbit, Danny Dog and more. Peppa loves playing games, dressing up, visiting exciting places and making new friends, but her absolute favorite thing is jumping up and down in muddy puddles! Peppa's adventures are filled with wholesome entertainment the entire family can enjoy and always end happily with loud snorts of laughter.

Our readers have been asking for a Mommy Monday where my mommy takes over and say a few things. Apparently while they love reading about me, they would also love to get to know mommy a bit more. So here is my mommy just like you wanted!

There is a reason why I never do recipes on Growing Up Madison. I can cook well enough to feed my family, but I'm not that GREAT. I see all these amazing recipes and while I may have tried a few of them, especially those on my favorite food blog Foodie in WV, they almost never come out looking or maybe even tasting the way they should. My mom on the other hand can whip up something from scratch and it would taste amazing! I have been however hanging out a lot more in the kitchen so who knows, after all they say practice makes perfect.

This past week I received my Parents magazine and being that Easter is right around the corner, there are quite a few things in there that they have for the kids. One of them being these amazing cookies called Little Nibbles. This is my experience, it'll have you laughing.

Source: April 2014 Parents Magazine

That photo is taken from the April 2014 Parents Magazine and that's how the cookies are supposed to look! Granted the recipe was so simple and looked so easy to do. I said to myself, hey I can do that. I should have known better. As I mentioned before I don't have a single baking bone in my body.

This was the very simple recipe found on page 24:

• Your own or store bought cookie dough
• Corn Syrup
• Water
• Colored Sugar
• Measuring Spoons

When cookies are done, press measuring spoons into the warm dough for prints. Whisk light corn syrup with a bit of water, brush into indents, and sprinkle on colored sugar. 

Mommy believes in being kind and saying nice things to others. It has always been her philosophy that if you have nothing nice to say that you not say anything at all. That doesn't mean that sometimes things aren't said that shouldn't. When it comes to kids, kind words of encouragement can really make a big difference in their lives. When given the chance to review socks from notes to self I was positively delighted. Here was a company making a difference one sock at a time. After all words do make a difference.

Source: notestoself.com

Vera Bradley has recalled their Bear Ring Rattle and Bunny Stuffed Toys because they pose a choking hazard to young children. The pom-pom tail can detach from the body of both the bear rattle and the bunny. They were all sold at between September 2012 and January 2014 for $12 - $19.

The items being recalled all have white pom-pom tail on the back and the serial number is attached to the tag.

Bear Ring Rattle: Lola - Serial No: 007590013234135

Bunny: Lillie Bell - Serial No: 0000630012803140

Bunny: Tutti Frutti - Serial No: 0000630012803142

Bunny: Lola - Serial No:  007590013357145
If you own any of these items, stop using them immediately and return them to Vera Bradley for a full refund.

It's been announced today that IKEA has recalled ALL of their children's bed canopy because they pose a strangulation risk to kids. An infant or young child can get entangled at the neck in the canopy's fabric. The canopies are made out of mesh fabric and hang from the ceiling onto a child's bed or crib.

These canopy's were sold in the US, Canada and nationwide between August 1996 and March 2014. If you own a children's bed canopy from IKEA, you should stop using them immediately and return them to IKEA for a full refund.

Step2 has recalled the Whisper Ride Touring Wagon sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us because the removable blue seat backs can detach, allowing the child in the back to fall out, posing a falling hazard.

These wagons were sold at Toys "R" Us between February 2013 to August 2013. If you have one of these wagons you should stop using them immediately, inspect to determine if the seat belt is attached to the removable blue seat back.

Contact Step2 at 866-860-1887 to obtain a free repair kit between 8am and 5pm EST.

I just love receiving my subscription boxes and Citrus Lane by far is one of my favorite. I have been a subscriber for quite some time and each month I have been pleasantly surprised. There's nothing quite like receiving a box of goodies catered just for you. Sure I get boxes almost everyday but this one is extra special. If you have no idea what Citrus Lane is, it is a monthly subscription box service for newborns up to age 5. That means I have another 3 more years to go. Each month your box comes filled with goodies tailored to your little one's age. If you are interested in seeing what we got in my 25 month box, you can check out my Citrus Lane February Box Post.


I just love opening my box. The excitement of seeing that yellow box show up on the doorstep is amazing. I just know that there is something new in there for me. Whenever I open my box I get so excited and if mommy doesn't remind me to wait to take photos, there would be no photos for my post.


I opened my box and immediately saw a few things that I wanted to try right away. As usual my Citrus Lane "Hello" card is enclosed making my job so much easier to tell you what I got.

My card read:

We are excited to bring you a beautifully illustrated puzzle set from Petit Collage and one of our favorite art supplies from eco-kids. In this box, we've combined something to help your little one learn, play, and a couple of everyday functional items that we hope you'll enjoy. Introducing our subscribers to our favorites is so much fun and we hope that you like everything in this month's box as much as we do! 

Beginner Puzzle Set from Petit Collage - $14
petitcollage.com

Our little product testers loved this beautifully illustrated puzzle set designed by author and artist Lorena Siminovich, founder of Petit Collage. The set of four progressive mommy and baby animal puzzles will grow with your child. After mastering the 3-piece puzzle, they can then progress to the 4-piece, 5-piece, and 6-piece puzzles. Made with 80% recycled content and printed with vegetable based inks. Use code CITRUS14 for 15% off at petitcollage.com thru 4/30/2014. 

I love puzzles and have never heard of this brand before. A box filled with 4 puzzles of different pieces, how exciting is that? Citrus Lane just knows what to put into my box and I expect I will have hours of fun playing with this.

eco-dough from eco-kids - $8.00
ecokidsusa.com

We love eco-dough - an original in the natural dough market. A true family business, eco-kids uses a family recipe for the dough and their children as the testing ground for all new products. Made using all natural ingredients including plant, fruit and vegetable extracts. Kids love the large containers of dough, the soft consistency, and that it doesn't dry out (and if it does, simple add a few drops of olive oil or veggie oil). Use code CITRUSLANESPRING for 15% off your entire order at ecokidsusa.com thru 4/30/2014. 

I recently received Play-Doh in another subscription box but this one is so much better. Mommy loves playing with me and has a recipe that she uses to make her very own play-dough. Since I love putting everything in my mouth she doesn't buy the other kind much. This one is great for me and mommy loves that it safe for use as well. This is another hit with me.

Medi Buddy from Me4Kidz - $5.25
me4kidz.com

Despite your best efforts, accidnts will happen! Be prepared with this easy-to-stow first aid kit. It's small enough to fit in a purse, diaper bag, or glove compartment, but packed with the most common first aid supplies, like cute bandages and antiseptic wipes. The case is resuable, so you can refill it when the need arises. And, as a bonus, each purchase of Me4Kidz products gives back to the disabled community. Use code CL314 for 25% off at me4kidz.com thru 12/31/2014

What better way to have your first aid kit in your diaper bag? This is perfect! Containing 40 pieces of almost everything that is needed in an emergency, and trust me those emergencies do come up pretty often. I currently have bruises on my knees from falling while running. This is perfect for the playground. I can certainly see this being used quite often.

Citrus Hydrating Body Lotion from Weleda - $16.50
usa.weleda.com

This award-winning lotion from Weleda is made from organic ingredients like aloe vera, coconut, and sesame oil. We like the hydrating formulation and the light, refreshing citrus scent, which helps us fast forward our thoughts to Spring while hydrating our Winter skin. Weleda is not your average beauty company - they use all natural ingredients from biodynamic farms and source using fair trade partnership.

This is one for mommy and she just loves it. She loves the smell and the fact that it is great for the entire family. Mommy loves products that contain natural ingredients and we have quite a few Weleda products. They are amazing!


I have to say that I loved everything that came in my box this month. It is very rarely that I am disappointed in my Citrus Lane box. The puzzle was a hit and so was the play-dough. The medi-kit is currently in my diaper bag and so is the lotion. Mommy was really happy that the lotion was a full sized product as well and not a sample sized one.


The total of my Citrus Lane box this month was $43.75. A subscription is $25 which includes shipping but if you join today using my referral link you will get $10 off your first box. You can't beat $15 for your first box filled with awesome goodies. March box was a delight and I can't wait for April's.

Disclosure: This post contains  referral links!

I love going to the movies. I even did a post called Tips on Taking Your Toddler to the Movies. After all a lot of movies are made for us little ones and it's such a shame that we don't go as much as we would like to.  Introducing Ernest and Celestine currently showing in select movie theaters nationwide.

I haven't done an Almost Wordless Wednesday in quite some time. Yeah I can never go totally wordless like most people can. I love chatting and love to tell a little story with my photos. Today though I think that maybe I just can. After all how much can I really say about visiting the dentist? For those who have been with me for a while, you may remember I highlighted my fist visit to the dentist in a blog post.

Disclaimer: I received products  for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Though the product were free, opinions are 100% my very own. 


Who doesn't love being pampered? I know I do! What's the best time to be pampered? I would have to say it's bath time. It's the time when I can relax and be myself. Splashing in the tub is my favorite pastime and when my bath is warm and relaxing I love just sitting in there for hours. Mommy says that I would turn into a prune if I'm in there too long but it has yet to happen. I don't think mommy is being truthful because I have never heard of anyone turning into a prune before. I don't think I'd be the first one. When offered to try some products from Baby Spa I was more than happy to say yes. After all here was another company that not only cared about little ones but they even went an extra step. Baby Spa realized that we go through stages from baby to toddlerhood, which includes skin changes and made their products to correspond to those stages.

Source: Baby Spa

Baby Spa believes skin protection and nourishment is especially important as babies grow and are exposed to different surroundings. From newborn through toddlers, their products are formulated in harmony with your child's changing environment and unique skin care needs. Their Baby Spa collection is the only one of it's kind to consider the development and growth stages of children within their unique blends in a way that is simple and easy to follow.

We believe in being wholesome, honest and pure in our approach. All of our products are 98-1005 natural and totally free of all those harsh chemicals such as Parabens, SLS, PEG and mineral oils. We always use extracts from plants, roots and flowers to deliver gentle, nurturing and vitamin-rich skin care. Our Baby Spa collection over 30 different botanicals, each one carefully selected for its unique benefits, therapeutic properties and pampering qualities to enhance those special bonding moments. 

Stage 1 products were specially formulated for the newborn to crawler stage. I received the Stage 2 products, 3-in-1 Tearless Shampoo, Body Wash & Moisturizer and their Moisturizing Body Lotion. Stage 2 products were made to care for delicate skin in toddlers through preschool and beyond. Featuring nourishing and invigorating blends scented with a splash of uplifting citrus.


I have to say that the smell of these products were oh so good! That citrus scent was mild but oh so amazing.

I first used the 3-in-1 product while in the bath. It was time for me to get my hair washed and what better time to try out this new product. While it did make my hair smell really nice I did have to use a little more extra because of my oh so thick hair. As you can see from my photo it did lather up amazingly and left my hair squeaky clean when it was over. The smell even remained and let me say once again, IT SMELLED AMAZING! It is also tear free so you won't have to worry if some gets in your little one's face.



After I was finished with my bath I used the Moisturizing Body Lotion. The lotion contains Organic Olive, Jojoba and Grape Seed Oils to nourish and hydrate my skin. Organic Aloe, Chamomile and Calendula provide instant freshness. It is light and non greasy and is easily absorbed into my skin. As I've mentioned before I have very sensitive skin and I tend not to use products that have too many items in them because of my skin sensitivity. Mommy used just a small amount to test for a skin reaction and I can gladly say that there was none. I have been using this lotion for a few weeks now and I love it. It does moisturize and once again the smell is great!

Baby Spa products are great and there are lots more including the Soapless Body Wash, Bubble Bath Milk, Soothing Face Cream and Nourishing Massage Oil. You can purchase Baby Spa products at their online store or at Buy Buy Baby. They are only great for you but they also make perfect baby shower gift as well. Baby Spa gets my TWO TINY THUMBS UP!



Disclosure: Growing Up Madison receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. Giveaways are not sponsored by Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ or any other social media site. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. 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."

Disclaimer: I received products  for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Though the product were free, opinions are 100% my very own. 


You may have noticed that I was absent from the blog yesterday. After posting sometimes 3 posts a day I was MIA. I bet you wondered what happened. Well yesterday was a very special day and one where mommy decided that all things blogging related would have to take a backseat. It was my big sister Krxssy's birthday. If you've never met Krxssy before, she blogs over at Krissy Deane where she does things a lot differently than I do. Where I tend to stick to my baby/toddler/kids products, she blogs about adult stuff and mostly makeup. Makeup that I tend to get into at times. She's usually not very happy when that happens but I'm learning from the best. While my make up may not be expertly done it was done by my hand and I'm getting there.


Yesterday was also the day that I went to the dentist for my 2 year dental visit. The entire family had dental appointments so we all got into my mom's minivan and off we went to the dentist. Krxssy wasn't too happy to be there since it was her birthday, but what's better than having a beautiful smile that is cavity free on your birthday? Now I plan on sharing my dental visit with you on another post but today I want to re-introduce you to Branam Smile. Why re-introduce you? You may not realize this but Branam was the VERY FIRST company that I worked with when I started blogging. I did a Branam Toothpaste/Toothgel review and I'll be the first to admit that I still use them to this very day. Almost a year later.


When my dentist saw me at my visit she was very happy to see that not only was I cavity free but my teeth was shiny and white. She asked what I used and mommy told her about Branam's Xylitol's toothgel. She agreed that Xylitol is one of the best things for my teeth.


When I received my gift pack from Branam I was pleasantly surprised to the contents. In it was everything that a little one like me needs. There was the toothgel that I loved, brand new toothbrushes, dental floss, a toothpaste tube squeezer, straws and some boogie wipes. Branam's is recommended by dentists, pediatricians and pharmacists and know what we love about them? Here are just a few things.

• They are made right here in the good ole USA
• No fluoride means that it is safe for me to swallow.
• 100% All Natural Xylitol Toothpaste
• All natural ingredients
• It was developed by a Pediatric Dentist who knows what's best for us little ones.  

Branam Smile Toothpaste and Toothgel's come in delicious flavors that would actually make your little ones enjoy brushing. The toothgel is perfect for babies and toddlers while the toothpaste is great for the older kids age 4+. My 9 year old brother who is autistic loves it. Mommy usually have to remind my brothers to brush their teeth but my brother is always brushing now because he just loves the taste of it.


Now Branam not only has toothpaste and toothgel but they also make xylitol gum too. Mommy just loves the gum! There are also pacifiers as well, there's a little something for everyone which is great. Branam once again gets my TWO TINY THUMBS UP just like they did all those months ago.

Here are the ways to connect with this awesome company:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Disclaimer: I received products  for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Though the product were free, opinions are 100% my very own. 


It's my intention to make every Friday our Fashion Friday. I know a thing or two about fashion if I do say so myself and while we do have a few favorites, I like to incorporate a few other pieces into my wardrobe. If you're thinking about something fresh and unique then look no further than Matilda Jane Clothing Company. Today is all about Matilda Jane and what they have to offer. The great thing about Matilda Jane is that they're not just for little ones like me but they are also for adults as well. Yes there is a mommy line that complements the little kids clothing line so you can have that mommy and me look! Twice a year Matilda Jane brings out a new line and I'm here to showcase their Paint by Numbers collection.

Source: Matilda Jane Clothing

I just unveiled my February box and here is March. It's always exciting receiving my subscription boxes and Stork Stack has been one of my favorite since I was first introduced to them. There's nothing quite like receiving a box of goodies catered just for you. It's always such a fun surprise every month. Now if you would like to see what I got last month, you can check out my February Stork Stack box. Stork Stack for those who don't know is a monthly subscription service for babies in the third trimester up to age of 3. I don't have much longer before I can no longer receive my Stork Stack but as of now I'm enjoying it. This box is for a 26 month old. I have quite a ways to go before I'm 26 months old but they are usually spot on and I can use them right now anyway.