Thanks to a lot of young children’s toys and shows engaging our children through the beautiful notes of classical music, most children today are exposed to classical music at a very young age.  I have to admit that I actually had minimal exposure to classical music myself until I became a parent and bought my son a classical baby CD and a few other baby products featuring classical music.  I now find myself enjoying classical music as much as my children.  However, it is clear that my children associate many classical songs to the toys, shows, and characters from which they first heard the music.  This has led me to wonder how will I get my children interested in new classical songs as they out grow these toys and shows geared toward very young children?  Naturally when I discovered the answer to my question, I just had to share it with you.  And the answer is…..Maestro Classics!

Maestro Classics award winning collection of CDs are designed to help you incorporate music into your lives.  I have zero musical talent, but I have always appreciated all forms of musical talent.  Most of all, I have always enjoyed listening to music.  Maestro Classics are a great way to explore music and its story as a family.  My boys are still pretty young, so I have been the primary audience for these CDs thus far.  However, once they are a bit older, I think these CDs will be fun to listen to along with my kids.  These CDs are fun and educational, so they would also be great for home schooling and other educators.  The Maestro Classics website even has music teacher lesson plans!

When asked, “Why do you include folk, jazz, pop, Dixieland, university marching bands and even a song in the style of Elvis on these CDs introducing orchestra?” Maestro Classics answered, “Music is a broad and varied tapestry that should be enjoyed in all its many forms. These CDs spread the joy of music.” This is a great message to pass onto to children and something we as adults should remember as well.  We are creatures of habit and it can be extremely easy to live life with tunnel vision and miss out on many amazing experiences along the way!

Maestro Classics CDs come with a small story book inside each CD case.  The story book is filled with great information, fun illustrations, and you may even find some words to the music to help you sing-a-long!  So, if you are young or not so young, well educated in music or not so knowledgable, I recommend Maestro Classics.  These stories in music are a treasure and the education you gain in the inexperience is just a bonus!

Buy It!

You can purchase Maestro Classics CDs such as The Soldier’s Tale and My Name is Handel: The Story of Handel’s “Water Music” online at Amazon.com or the Maestro Classics website.  If you tend to listen to music on your iPod, cell phone, ect., you can purchase Maestro Classics songs on iTunes as well!

Win It!                  

One lucky reader at The Children’s Nook is going to win a copy of either The Soldier’s Tale CD or The My Name is Handel CD.  The winner gets to pick which one they would like to own! Mandatory Entry:  Visit the Maestro Classics website and comment about something you learned there, or which CD you’d be interested in listening to.

Extra Entries (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

• Follow Bonnie Simon’s blog (2 extra entries)
• Subscribe to The Children’s Nook via email (3 entries) The subscription must be confirmed!
• Follow The Children’s Nook on Twitter (1 entry)
• Follow Maestro Classics on Twitter (1 entry)
• Tweet the following: “#Win a copy of the Maestro Classics: The Soldier’s Tale or My Name is Handel CD @childrensnook http://wp.me/pX9wg-1nO” (You may tweet once a day for 1 entry per day)
• “Like” The Children’s Nook on Facebook (1 entry)
• “Like” Maestro Classics on Facebook (1 entry)
• Comment on any other non-giveaway post on this blog (1 entry)
• Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or Blog about this giveaway and post a link to your blog post in the comments below (2 entries)
• Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 entry per giveaway)
• Place my button from this website on your blog (2 entries)

Giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. (central time) on February 26, 2012.  This giveaway is open to residents in both the U.S. and Canada.  The winner will be selected by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

I received the Maestro Classics CDs, The Soldier’s Tale and My Name is Handel: The Story of Handel’s “Water Music” free of charge for review purposes.  All opinions are mine alone and based off of my experience with the product I reviewed.

Attention all nursing mammas, mothers of nursing mammas, friends of nursing mammas, and future nursing mammas!  I have stumbled across the most amazing nursing cami ever created!  Skinies camis provide the most convenient and comfortable nursing experience while still allowing you to look great!  Skinies camis have allowed me to wear most of my non-nursing clothing for several months now.  Skinies are made of a high quality cotton/poly blend with a bit of spandex to provide a little support and a great fit.  All you have to do is slide on your Skinies over your favorite nursing bra and then throw on anything you wish to wear.  Skinies have no flaps and no snaps, which provide a no fuss nursing experience.

Skinies are available in three different colors and two different designs.  I have a Skinies top in black with no petals.  My Skinies cami is by far the most comfortable and easy to use nursing top I own.   I recently stopped nursing my baby boy and I still find myself wearing my Skinies under shirts.  It is the perfect length to wear under other tops.  I hope to have one more baby someday, and when that day comes I will be purchasing the nude and white Skinies.  The reason I want Skinies in every color is because I could see the circular opening of my Skinies on a few thin tops if I did not have a black bra on with my black Skinies cami.  If I had a black nursing bra, I could easily remidy this problem.  However, instead of purchasing a blacking nursing bra, I would much rather purchase another Skinies cami.  They are so comfortable and I would love to have another one to wear while my other cami is in the dirty laundry!  Since I have worn my cami so often, I can honestly say that Skinies hold up well to frequent washing.  Having a Skinies in every color will make dressing for any occasion much easier!  So, if you are a nursing mamma or know a nursing mamma, I highly recommend Skinies.  This cami will make nursing much more comfortable and convenient!

Buy It!

Thanks to the wonderful people at Skinies, The Children’s Nook readers can get 20% of their Skinies purchase with the following coupon code: childrensnook

Win It!

One lucky reader at The Children’s Nook is going to win the Skinies top of their choice!  Mandatory Entry: Visit Skinies and come back here to leave me a comment telling me what top you would love to own.

• Extra Entries (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
  • Subscribe to The Children’s Nook via email (3 entries) The subscription must be confirmed!
  • Follow The Children’s Nook on Twitter (1 entry)
  • Follow Skinies on Twitter (1 entry)
  • Tweet the following: “Enter to #win a Skinies top in your choice of color @childrensnook http://wp.me/pX9wg-1nt” (You may tweet once a day for 1 entry per day)
  • “Like” The Children’s Nook on Facebook (1 entry)
  • “Like” Skinies on Facebook (1 entry)
  • Comment on any other non-giveaway post on this blog (1 entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway and post a link to your blog post in the comments below (2 entries)
  • Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 entry per giveaway)
  • Place my button from this website on your blog (2 entries)

Giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. (central time) on February 18, 2012. This giveaway is open to residents in both the U.S. and Canada.  The winner will be selected by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

I received a black Skinies top free of charge for review purposes.  All opinions are mine alone and based off of my experience with the product I reviewed.

Torani flavored syrup comes in a variety of different flavors.  In fact, Torani offers over 100 syrup flavors making them the #1 brand of flavored syrups in America.  Several of the Torani syrup flavors are also available sugar-free.  These zero calorie syrups are a great way to treat yourself and still start the new year off right with a low cal diet!  I like having a few bottles of Torani Flavored Syrup on hand in my pantry, because one of my favorite ways to treat myself is having a yummy cup of coffee or hot chocolate.  Torani Flavored Syrups allow me to have that cafe style break right in my own home.  Plus, you never know when an unexpected guest may pop in for a drink, and wouldn’t it be fun to impress them with a cafe style cup of coffee!?

I have tried several Torani Flavored Syrups.  One of my favorite flavors is the Peppermint.  I love adding Torani peppermint Syrup to my hot cocoa.  It is so yummy and makes my hot chocolate feel like an extra special treat!  I also have used this Peppermint syrup in my coffee.  I have found several Torani syrups, such as the Vanilla and Irish Cream flavors, to also be great ways to spruce up my coffee.  However, I can’t drink my coffee with just Torani Syrup.  I always have to add cream or milk.  French Roast coffee with Torani Irish Cream Syrup and some French Vanilla cream is my favorite coffee drink creation at the moment.  Once the weather warms up, I plan on trying some of the Torani recipes for iced coffee.  They sound delicious!

Buy It!

You can purchase Torani syrups online at Torani.com and get 10% off your purchase when you use the promotion code: shespeaks.  I found Torani Flavored Syrups available for purchase at Gordmans, World Market, and most grocery stores in my area.  Go here to find which stores near you have Torani syrups available for purchase.

Win It!                     ******CLOSED******

THREE lucky readers at The Children’s Nook are going to win a coupon for a FREE bottle of any flavor Torani Syrup!  Mandatory Entry: Check out the recipes on the Torani Website and come back here to leave me a comment telling me what recipe you would like to try.

Extra Entries (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

• Subscribe to The Children’s Nook via email (3 entries) The subscription must be confirmed!
• Follow The Children’s Nook on Twitter (1 entry)
• Follow Torani on Twitter (1 entry)
• Tweet the following: “Enter to #win a FREE bottle of Torani Flavored Syrup @childrensnook (3 Winners!) http://wp.me/pX9wg-1n6” (You may tweet once a day for 1 entry per day)
• “Like” The Children’s Nook on Facebook (1 entry)
• “Like” Torani on Facebook (1 entry)
• Comment on any other non-giveaway post on this blog (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway and post a link to your blog post in the comments below (2 entries)
• Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 entry per giveaway)
• Place my button from this website on your blog (2 entries)

Giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. (central time) on February 10, 2012. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be selected by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks to Torani and SheSpeaks I received Torani Flavored Syrup free of charge for review purposes.  All opinions are mine alone and based off of my experience with the product I reviewed.