Pin It to Win It from www.pinterestmama.com #1: Willow Play Kitchen

Hello Readers! 

If you were directed here by http//www.pinterestmama.com or if you came by way of @pinterestmama on Twitter, you are in the right place!

It's me! I am @pinterestmama and www.pinterestmama.com is my new venture!

What is Pinterest Mama all about?

Well, let me tell you:

Pinterest Mama is a place you can use as a go-to source on how to make the most of your Pinterest experience. For those who are already familiar with Pinterest, you know how awesome it is!
I'm un-offically the world's biggest Pinterest fan and want to help you make the most of your Pinterest experience.

But for those who are not yet familiar with Pinterest, here is the exact quote of what Pinterest has to say about themselves from their own website (This is the exact quote from their own website):

"Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard. "

"Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests."  Source: www.Pinterest.com 

Simply stated, Pinterest is an awesome place where you can Dream BIG!
You can dream - pin - plan - organize - make a reality!
So my thought was to create a place to share ideas on how to make the most of Pinterest.
There are so many possibilities for using Pinterest!
Well, as an intro. of what Pinterest can do for you, here is a beginning idea for those of you who love giveaways:

Giveaway Prize:
Willow Wooden Play Kitchen and Metal Utensils Set.
Perfect for a an unschooling family, or a Waldorf - Play Based - Reggio Emilia  - or Montessori inspired classroom or homeschool!
Also would be great for a nonprofit that works with young children!
This is just a gorgeous set, has two shelves for storage, is made of pine and is 37" tall 22" wide and 12" deep. No ply wood or MDF. Solid, sturdy, and handcrafted.
The Willow Wooden Play Kitchen retails for $250.00
The Stainless Steel Cookware Set retails for $22.50
So, the prize package is a wonderful prize worth $272.50!!!
Wow!!!

Here is the thing:

You have to either pick this up locally or make plans for shipping or pick up. 

This package does not include shipping or packing.

If you live somewhere that is not close to where we are near Tampa, Florida, then if you want to win, you will have to make your own arrangements as far as how this awesome prize will get to you! You could pay to have it shipped or you could make arrangements for it to be picked up on your behalf if say you have relatives or friends planning to head to Florida during the next few weeks.

A little on the back story of this lovely set:
Had purchased this set thinking that it would be something neat for some friends of mine, but the shipping was going to be somewhat cost prohibitive.
So when I contacted Pinterest, purchased www.pinterestmama.com and set up @pinterestmama, decided that what might be a great way to get the word out about Pinterest would be to give this away to a lucky winner!!!

Update: 

This giveaway is now closed. Comments are now closed.
The winner, as determined by Random.Org, is comment #19, submitted by tlb.

Congrats to tlb!

tlb said...

Would Love to Win! Enjoy your blog!! and pinterest looks very informative and Fun for all! Willows products quality look wonderful and play stands could be used for so much imaginative play, Thanks!

Drawing started 11/10/2011 and ended 11/25/2011.
Winner, tlb,  will be notified on or by 11/28/2011 following the review of all submissions.
Winner was chosen randomly via Random.Org


Some Disclaimers are here, but for the complete disclaimer post, please click to read here.

Contacted Pinterest and have permission to go as Pinterest Mama, @pinterestmama and www.pinterestmama.com as long as it is very clearly stated that I am not an employee of Pinterest.

Also contacted Willow Toys and have sent them a link to this giveaway!

Here are some photos of Big Bro and Little Bro in our kitchen with this lovely prize! 

 

Wouldn't this be awesome to win???

Fabulous Willow Kitchen Set!

Stainless steel utensils set is in this bag.

Gorgeous Willow Play Kitchen!

Stamp from Willow showing that it is authentic.

My goal is for all of you to want to Dream BIG...
Follow your heart and pin what makes you happy and what you feel passionate about as far as creating - visualizing - and learning for your family and for yourself.

Using Pandora to Expand Your Child's Interest in Music (+TMBG Awareness Day)

If you have an iPhone or any other sort of Smart Phone that has the option to download Pandora, you really should, as not only is it awesome for adults but fabulous fresh and fun for the whole family!

In case you don't know about Pandora:

Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites (from their website). 
 
Initially, when I got my iPhone 4, I added Pandora so that I could put stations together primarily based on my musical interests, but then, it dawned on me how awesome it would be to expose Big Bro and Little Bro to different types of music, so that is just what we have done...we have added a variety of music genres for them to listen and to appreciate.
This morning, Little Bro woke up, got himself dressed, and came in and told me what he wanted to do for his school work this morning...he wanted to make his own Pandora station! He had placed my iPhone 4 into the docking station, had selected Pandora, and was all set...he then added that I would have to help him with which group to put in, so we decided on They Might Be Giants Children's Songs.
Incidentally, today just happens to be TMBG Awareness Day*...
Little Bro typed in their name (with a tiny bit of help from me) and then, the fun began...he has some math manipulatives out on the floor and is sorting them in between the songs. When each new song starts, Little Bro hops up and twirls over and selects either thimbs up or thumbs down. Nearly every song has made his thumbs up rating, but it is very interesting to hear him speak when he selects thumbs down...usually, it is that the tempo is too slow...
This has been such a wonderful learning activity for him!
Putting a station together gives him the opportunity to choose which songs he prefers...no rights or wrongs...just his preferences for today.
Little Bro has had a blast! For some of the songs, he has stopped doing his math work long enough to break out into some dancing to the music, but then, he has gotten right back to what he had been doing!
If you have active children who enjoy music, encourage you to give this a try...
Some children might find it a distraction to multi-task and select songs as they proceed with their other work, but for some, it is just an awesome combination!

Big Bro just woke up, saw and heard the music, and has joined in the fun of helping to select thumbs up or down. He now wants to make his own station tomorrow.

Thanks Pandora!
Thanks They Might Be Giants!

We can't say enough good things about you!

*Here's a little tidbit about TMBG Awareness Day:
Today, They Might Be Giants is releasing four new tunes on iTunes. So, how cool is that???

Disclosure: I was not asked by Pandora or TMBG to do this review...the thoughts expressed are my own...am sharing because using Pandora within the scope of homeschooling and family life has worked out great for us...And we have been TMBG fans for several years now...hope that you will find the same to be true for your family!

Follow Me on Twitter: F5th

Well, I finally took the plunge and signed up for Twitter. Signed as F5th (and that stands for F to the 5th power, for the Five Fs:  Fab Fresh Fun with Friends & Family...largely because Sunrise Learning was already taken and Sunrise Learning Lab was too long.
Some great friends swear by Twitter, so thought I would give it a try!
So far, it has been pretty fun!
If you are already on Twitter, please let me know so that I can follow you!
Will be getting up to speed on hosting Twitter parties soon, too!
If you join Twitter and Follow me, I will follow you back too.
Social Media is Fab, Fresh, and Fun, so it should be a neat way to share things with Friends & Family!
Plus, since you are limited as to how many characters you can have in a Tweet, it forces me to be short and sweet and keeps me focused!
There are some awesome folks on Twitter so if you have been thinking about joing, you should!
Have a happy weekend and see you on Twitter, I hope!