Recently I put out a post about trying to get the value of money across to my preschooler (read Flowers and Financials) but coming from a poor background the concept of saving is one close to my heart so I place emphasis on it with my girls. I normally skip book reviews as they take too long (in fact the only reading I do is reading to the kids) but when I was pitched...

Brushing is a necessary evil. I mean like it or not you know you have to do it.  If you skimp on it the results will be clearly visible each time you smile. Having a kid throws a spanner in the works. Oh, and I don’t just mean that you don’t find the time to pay attention to your oral hygiene (that too) but the fact that you have to look after their teeth....

Normally I love to clear out the kitchen when the kids are asleep. Except for the fact that it is great not to be tripping over the kids when they are around, cleaning up at the end of the day is a non-thinking therapeutic kind of job. The only thing I never do, that I wanted to, is kick off the dishwasher. Well at least that used to be the one thing I never did. No way...

Never it be said that Mommy Niri forgets about all the mamas out there. This is just for you. This 3-piece kit from CoverGirl includes everything you need to get the smoky eye look. Easy-to-follow makeup application instructions by CoverGirl makeup artist Molly Stern are also included.  It comes in 3 options Bold, Glamorous and Natural look. Each kit includes a mascara,...

I love soda. I don’t keep it in the home and know it is BAD for me but I love it. I love tea. I never used to but it is one of those things living with a tea addict I became a lover of. The only thing is I like my tea hot. I never drink iced tea and have never had the urge. So when last year I was offered to try some I found an excuse after another to not. Call me...

My girls love to play dress up. I mean that in every sense of it. They dress themselves up, they dress their dolls, they dress their magnetic dolls and they even have dress up bath toys. In fact I have been using printables where they cut and dress up paper dolls recently too. Lovely Lisa is based on a doll as popular in Japan as Barbie is in the USA. Now here is a game...

I am not talking about space to have a hot cup of tea or go to the bathroom undisturbed. I know those are futile to dream about. Those days waved goodbye so fast the day I became a mom. Actually the other space that I speak of was also a dream too, hmm actually the lack of space was a nightmare. Really. If you have not yet figured it out, I speak of my shiny new dishwasher. Having...

Who does not love Seth Godin? I am sure I am not alone in being a huge fan. Seth Godin has earned a place in my inbox and anyone who dispenses advice so clearly and in a why that makes you feel “That just makes sense!” deserves the attention and accolades he receives. When I met Seth Godin in NY during the Linchpin discussion I was in awe. The man is more...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Rosanne! My daughter has been bugging me for ages to have a party. Now if you are one of the moms at my daughter’s school you would know that I can barely get my act together. Thank heavens for winter jackets which hide the same crumpled shirt I don every morning. Anyway either the fact that her nagging had got to me or the fact that...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Karen! You may recall a little while ago The Papa Post did an interview with Goby.  Well Goby has changed a lot since then and have a fun challenge for the Mommy Niri readers.  Summer is always easy but come February I am literally climbing the walls for something to do. Winter is a tough one everywhere but in a place like Boston where...

CONTEST CLOSED!! Congratulations Terri! Hasbro has the most delectable toys, especially for PreSchoolers (more on that later as I have a scoop from a private showroom viewing) but my favorite has got to be the Potato head. Sure it is not the most sophisticated of toys but its simplicity is it’s charm.  I love that there is one for each season but seriously the...

Seriously I am. This is a big moment. Probably not to you as you do it often but this is a big step for me. I mean I will load, but unloading is a pet peeve. If you don’t already know I have a new shiny thing in my kitchen (courtesy of being a Fridgedaire Test Drive Mom) and you won’t miss it since it is the only shiny thing in my kitchen. I am sure I saw...

Some things are just the easiest to review. I would be hard pressed to come across someone who has not heard about Johnson’s baby products. Fads and hip new brands may come and go but as a mom I know that I can rely on the Johnson’s brand. I know this not only from my own use of them on my girls but of my mom’s use of it on me. True, I grew up in South...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Terri! Electronic games are all fine and well but I slot the usage of them in the 2 hour maximum television window I allow my kids per day. I dread the picture of having my kids glued to the television all day and I really hate when kids fail to see the beauty around them as they are so deep in a game (as I mentioned seeing kids with a Nintendo...

Water is good for you. That is just a truthful statement. Knowing that and still managing to drink it is really not so easy. The past few weeks I was approached about test driving some beverage alternatives. Of course I said yes, anything but water always sounds better. And way better if it is not the soda I reach for. Luckily I don’t keep soda in the house or I...

Bath time!  It can either mean fun time or struggle time. We tend to have box of bath toys in the bathroom to try and make it as exciting as possible.  Of course there is no guarantee. I have reviewed Suave before but was keen to learn they had a kid’s line of bath products too. All those who can never have too many bath products for kids raise your hands. That...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Adria! Are you ready for your Super Bowl party? Walmart is a place that has everything from the snacks to electronics. Truthfully not always the most fashionable place to shop but certainly the most practical. In fact I am always trying to get to the fancier stores and when hubby drags me to Walmart and goes on about how realistically we...

Some time during the holidays I was approached to take the Waterpik for a spin. A few years ago I would have laughed myself silly and passed up on the offer. In fact about 6 or 7 years ago I was wary of the electric toothbrush (I had chalked it up to a gadget for lazy people). Somehow I sucked it up and bought one to try. Needless to say I have never gone back. If you...

We have been testing out the monthly projects at Home Depot and Lowes. The great thing is they are free the not so great is that they manage to happen at a time when I almost certainly have some other event scheduled. I love planning activities but hate having to shop out for each individual materials. Also when you have kids time is precious and I really don’t want...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!!! Congratulations Sarah! While I attended a Blogger’s Brunch in New York I met up with the guys from Plum Organics. When they contacted me to try their Plum Tots line aimed at toddlers I was honestly skeptical. You see while I believe anything organic is worth a look things marked baby foodlike don’t go down easily with my sensory specific...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!!! Congratulations Gianna! The great thing about being part of the Sprout’s Band Of Bloggers is that I get a sneak peak into the amazing works of the Sprout team. You would easily think the amazing line-up targeted at preschoolers is enough, but I am constantly impressed by how much this team is doing to try and help parents out. In fact  when...

CONTEST CLOSED! COngratulations Darla, Rachel, Susan, Kelly, Emily! When I was approached to give Shake ‘N Bake a try, my reaction was “What?”. Now, crucify me if you like but I had never heard about Shake ‘N Bake. Maybe it had something to do with me not being born here or maybe the fact that I am a vegetarian may have something to do with it....

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Jen! The Wii is here to stay and although I am pretty cautious about gaming because they are too sedentary and addictive. With the Wii games I love that it gets you moving.  As much as there are several adult games I have been keeping an eye out for games for kids. Many games that are listed as kid-friendly have some pretty gory visuals. Here...

While at the Aiming Low party (still praying for Anissa) I got to meet the team from HP and the awesome HP Web Printer (HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web – the world’s first web-connected printer to be exact). Still confused? Hear what my 4 year old girl has to say: I caught a glimpse at Type A Mom conference but did not get to test drive it. When the invitation...

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CONTEST CLOSED!! Congratulations Rondah! I know what you are thinking, enough with stuff for the kiddos already. I think my brain has been so programmed for the past 4 years to put the kids first that I have neglected mommy pampering. Well, that is going to be rectified. Right here. Right now. What is the ultimate treat for a mom, with the assurance that you can’t...

CONTEST IS CLOSED! Congratulations Kamani! Disney on Ice Hits Boston and what better time than during the holiday season.  The stop at Boston will be short so you may want to reserve your seat as soon as possible. Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Magic: Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney...

CONTEST CLOSED!! Congratulations Cristi I love dolls. I do. I had never seen a doll of color except for a Barbie while I toured India. Actually I lie. That was a white doll just using a sari. I think since then there have been a few dolls of color out there since then. I have not been pleased with the many that I have seen. Call me a prude but many are just plain a mixture...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Jen! What do you get for the person who has everything? Seriously can’t go cheap right? No use wasting money on something expensive since they may have 10 stacked away in the closet. I guess you could try hand-made but with hand-made it is always a toss up whether it will be a success or not. For me I like to be careful who enjoys...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Kim! A little earlier in the year I had a chance to meet the team at Wicked Good Cookies. In fact they have a Create a Cookie Club House where kids can come in and make cookies so my kids got to be part of the cookie making process. we had fun and I learnt that these guys were a wonderful team baking up quality cookies. In fact at Type...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Julie! Skincare is one of the things I pay attention to. Well, make that used to pay attention to. I must admit I have let things get out of control. Not sure if it it my bad habit of drinking too little water (why, oh why does water not taste like Diet Coke?) or maybe the fact that I come from a tropical place and the Boston winters...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Ellen! I have 2 girls so to say that dolls are a part of our life would be highly redundant. As much as I am not a fan of many of the new toys out there (some of it may be because they don’t hold such a memory to me as dolls) dolls have hands down been my favorite toy ever. When I had kids and we had playdates and many of my friends...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Christopher! Macy’s new campaign “Believe” captures the essence of the season with giving being the focus. The new TV commercial features Queen Latifah to help get the message out. For every letter that Macy’s gets, they will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to a whopping $1 million. That seems so easy to something...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Amy! So you think I only have girly toys? Well having 2 little girls my view of fabulous toys is somewhat skewed. Well to make up for any relapse I may have had, how about this robotic Rex figure from the Toy Story collection? Are your ears perked up to know it is worth $69.99 ? Seriously you could be a superstar in your kid’s eye...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Sheila, Annamarie and Charlene! In this comedy sequel Ben Stiller stars as Larry Daley.  Larry’s nocturnal friends are being retired to the archives of the Smithsonian Institution, luring him back for a hilarious, all-out battle against an Egyptian Pharaoh who plans to take over the museum… and the world!  Directed by Shawn Levy,...

Timing in blogging is sometimes a little weird. My kids normally use the Colgate electric toothbrush (more for the Dora picture on it) but recently the battery ran out and on a Halloween trick or treat a house gave out (manual) toothbrushes (the dad was a dentist but seriously how cool is that?). The fact that there were Dora brushes meant both my kids forgot about all...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Melanie! You may be anxiously waiting the release of The Princess and the Frog movie and you may have even been ogling the Disney products for this movie after reading my review of Disney The Princess and the Frog Tiana Musical Instruments Play Set, but Mommy Niri always saves something for you. This is the kick-off of the 12 Days Of Christmas...

In true Mommy Niri fashion of giving you the greatest giveaways there was no way I could let  the holidays go by without bringing you something special.  Well, make that 12 something special giveaways. With some of them having more than one winner there are sure to be many merry readers of Mommy Niri out there. So keep checking everyday and to make sure you don’t...

The Princess and the Frog Tiana Wedding Gown Doll SRP: $16.50 Retailers: Disney Store, and DisneyStore.com Available: Now Fairy tales do come true, but you may have to kiss a frog first! Gorgeous in her green wedding gown, the Princess Tiana doll is as sparkling as the blue bayou. An adorable little figure of Tiana as her charming frog self is also included. The Princess...

On returning from the Time To Play (top toys 2009) event I came across a few of the Baby Genius toys. My experience to Baby Genius prior to the event was mainly the videos of nursery rhymes.  I have on occasion used it to “babysit” my kids while I got some precious activity attended to. In fact the Sleepytime videos were my favorite and they actually all...

When I was approached to review the Richard Scarry’s Busytown Mysteries I was a bit unsure. Unlike most everyone my exposure to the series was very little. Stop looking so surprised, you know I did not grow up here so the television shows you are all used to I am not. But then again it is not like I have never heard of the series. A while back I saw a special of...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulation Krystal! When I was approached to host a Curious George screening for “A Very Monkey Christmas“.party I totally flipped. Curious George is not only a favorite show with my kids but mine too. Sometimes they dawdle off to their room and I stay rooted in front of the television to see what George will do. Now that either means...

When I learned that Playskool had kicked off an educational initiative and was asked whether I would help promote it, I readily agreed. Anything promoting education has my name on it. I know what you are thinking: But doesn’t Playskool make toys, and so it is just playing? No way. I may not be reading the parenting books so much now but the first 2 years I devoured...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Cher! When the guys at Sports Authority contacted me about doing a giveaway of the Wii Fit Plus Board and Jillian Michael’s New Wii Game, I thought how ironic since I had just come back from the EA Sports Active More Workouts tour in Boston earlier in the day (I am giving one away too). Sports Authority is teaming up with Nintendo...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Daniel! Today I stopped by the makeshift location of the EA Sports Active team while they are in Boston promoting their latest offering “More Workouts”. I guess calling it makeshift is a poor choice of words considering the location is on the upscale Newbury Street in Boston. Boston is one of 2 places they are holding a month...

A while ago I was approached by Team Mom about reviewing K’NEX, and I thought why not. The closest thing I can think of describing K’NEX to would be LEGOs. You see we are a hardcore Lego family (well as hardcore as a 2 and 4 year old can be) but on my daughter’s 4th birthday she got a set of K’NEX and I could see the possibilities. I am a big fan...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Stacie! I come from having 4 sisters so girly stuff has always adorned my home.  When I was pregnant I so badly wanted a girl for the mere reason to dress her in all of that cute clothes. Now with 2 little girls our home is full of dolls and here’s the thing: I love it.   Corolle, a fabulous french doll company that designs high...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!! Congratulations Lauralee and Divinia! If you have read my post Passing On My Prejudices, you would know I have thing about tomatoes. I don’t ever eat them directly but I love the taste they bring to food so I try to disguise the texture.  That often means me using a food processor to make it into smaller bits, or even reaching out for a can...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!! Congratulations Cheryl! Thanksgiving is coming up so that means 2 things for most people: Turkey and also Black Friday. Not to take away anything from tradition, I respect that but Thanksgiving is also a great time to reflect. I have to admit to not being a big Turkey dinner fan (being a vegetarian you could clearly see why) or one to go crazy over...

Back in April, when I heard it was Autism month, I published several posts on Autism, including a post with Children Succeed, the makers of several games geared towards kids with autism. Since then I have received so much of requests for more information and being a topic that is so close to my heart (along with many other moms) I am featuring each of the Autism Games...

Contest Closed! Congratulations Tonya! While I was attending the Blogalicious conference, where I was also speaking, I managed to attend the cupcake suite party held by the Clever Girls Collective (trust me that name is well suited to these smart and sassy gals). While there when I was not devouring the yummy cupcakes or gulping down champagne (yes, I tell you these conferences...