If you browse self-help parenting books, you are sure to see titles like, 5 Easy Steps to this or 3 Weeks to that. Literally thousands of books promising you results if you follow a precise formula. Do they work? That is debatable, and given how many new titles join them each year it does not look favorable.
Author Julie Lowe, an experienced children and family counselor provides a different principle to her book, Child Proof. Child Proof is not a book about moving things out-of-the-way for your new baby but one that demonstrates how parenting with biblical wisdom is best for a pro,active rather than reactive approach to parenting.
Julie is an adoptive and foster mom who applies the CCEF model of biblical change, and uses Scripture and biblical wisdom to teach parents how to know their children and specifically love them with the love of Christ. As a freedom-over-formula parenting book for parents of all ages, Child Proof provides biblical insight and encouragement for readers who want to parent by faith.
Every family is unique, which is why Child Proof explores the need for parents to cultivate personal and intimate care for their children as modeled in God’s individual, personal, and fatherly care to his children. This parenting book lays a foundation of parenting by faith and progresses by teaching parents how they can know their own children well and parent accordingly. By discussing particular issues parents might have in family life, Lowe demonstrates how parenting formulas aren’t the answer, and parenting with biblical wisdom is best for a proactive rather than reactive approach to parenting.
Through Lowe’s personal and professional experience, parents as well as those helping parents—pastors, counselors and counseling students, youth workers, and churches—will discover gospel-centered application rather than formulas for the ideal family, equipping parents to be experts at knowing their own children so they can know Scripture and live it out personally in their homes.
About the Author
Julie Lowe is a faculty member at CCEF. She holds an MA in counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. She is a licensed professional counselor with over 18 years of counseling experience. Julie is also a registered play therapist and has developed a play therapy office at CCEF to better serve families, teens and children Julie and her husband, Greg, have six children and serve as foster and adoptive parents.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my post. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.
I cannot remember a time when I did not have a dog. I was born into a family with a beloved Cocker Spaniel who would watch over me like the nanny dog from Peter Pan. Through the years dogs were always part of our family.
When I married and had my own family, it was not long before we added a four-legged family member to our brood. Today we have three dogs who enrich our lives. My daughter, my oldest child lives in NYC. She is a young, single woman working as an executive in Manhattan. She longs to have a dog of her own. However, living in the city, there are some important things to consider before bringing home a puppy.
Puppy or Dog
When choosing to add a canine best friend to your life, you might be daydreaming of a cuddly little puppy. However, you should consider the amount of attention and training a new puppy will need. If you work long hours and your new pup will be left alone, a puppy may not be the right choice.
An adult dog, one already house trained may be a better choice. With an adult dog, you can see their full size, temperament and energy levels clearly. You will also not have to deal with the stages of puppyhood that are not always pleasant.
Housing Considerations
Is your building pet friendly? This is something you need to make sure of before bringing home a puppy or dog. Just because a building is listed as pet friendly does not mean dog friendly. Some buildings only allow cats while others have strict restrictions on the size and breeds allowed. Make sure you inquire about any restrictions before falling in love with that doggie.
Other things to consider especially if searching for a new pad in NYC for you and your prospective pooch are what type of flooring and if there is any outdoor yard space. There are some great pet-friendly buildings with amazing amenities, designed to make living in NYC with your new best friend, awesome!
Size and Breed
If you live in a tiny NYC apartment, a large dog might pose a huge challenge. Sharing a small studio with a huge St. Bernard would probably be uncomfortable for the both of you. This is not to say, you must have a toy breed. Many city dwellers are able to manage mid to large size dogs like labradors quite easily. In fact a well-trained labrador, can be a pleasure to have as your canine companion.
Labradors come in different colors, they are known for their friendly temperament and will bond with all members of the family and are usually social with other dogs. They do love to exercise so, you will want to make sure they get plenty of walks and romps in the park. If you are looking for a running pal, a labrador whether yellow, chocolate or black, in one dog to consider. Get Your Pet is a great resource for finding your new best friend.
Important Resources
Living in NYC, you will find no shortage of dog walkers and doggie daycares. Just because you work during the day, does not mean you cannot have a great life with your dog. Taking steps to make sure your pooch is entertained and exercised during the work day, is essential to your dogs health and happiness.
Find a good veterinarian before you bring your new pal home. If you have friends and family in the area who have a dog, ask them about their vet. Chances are they are using one they like and can give you a recommendation. Keeping up with routine health care can help your dog live a happy and healthy life.
This post is part of a partnership between Nakturnal and Mommy Ramblings. As always, my views and words are 100% my own.
This post is sponsored by Harvest House Publishers. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.
Motherhood Requires Grit and Grace
New devotional book offers moms of young children encouragement and spiritual nourishment
If you’re a mom, you have probably felt like you were failing at some point or another in your parenting life. I think we can all relate to days that almost everything seems to be going wrong. When your toddler has a major meltdown in the middle of a store, when you are running on empty and still have a full list of things to do or when you compare yourself to the supermoms who seem to have it all together, it is easy to think we have failed. However, the truth is, you are good enough and you are doing the best you can. If you need encouragement and support, there is a book called Grit & Grace and it is full of devotions for warrior moms like ourselves.
This refreshing collection of 90 daily devotions comes from two moms who’ve found themselves face-to-the-floor in need of encouragement and now offer it to you. Through humor and vulnerability, these short messages of truth remove the filters of perfection clouding your vision and bring clarity to your purpose as a mom. As you read the Scripture and prayer that accompany each day’s message, you’ll discover more fully who you are in Christ and how to raise your children to reflect His love to the world.
The book is filled with chapters written by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy that will relate to many aspects of your life as a mom. When you are feeling low, picking up the book and finding out you are not alone is very comforting as is reading the prayer at the end of the chapter. It gives e the ability to forgive myself and start anew. It is a beautiful thing to know we can always do better with God’s Grace.
Hang in There, Mama!
For those moments when you think you’ll never live up to the Supermoms around you—when you’re elbow deep in the grind of diapers and laundry and peanut butter sandwiches—you need a good dose ofGrit and Grace. In giving yourself grace, you will find you have even more grace to give from the One who is present in your life right now and in every moment.
Q: How did the two of you team up to write Grit & Grace?
Suzanne Hadley Gosselin (SHG): I was in the throes of raising three young children who were 5, 3 and 18-months old, and it occurred to me one day that I was depleted in every way, but especially spiritually. I found that ironic, since my husband is a pastor and I’m a Christian writer. I had many spiritual resources easily accessible to me, and yet I was still struggling. I also realized that it wasn’t good because in this season of raising young children I really needed Jesus, arguably more than ever.
Around that same time, I had a conversation with my 3-year-old daughter about how I could no longer fit into my “fanciest dress” (my wedding dress) because I had gotten bigger when I had babies. Her reaction floored me. Her eyes sparkled and she said, “Was I one of the babies in your tummy that made you get bigger?” My daughter could see the beauty in something that I had allowed to make me feel like a failure. I realized, then, that God uses these years to teach mamas so many wonderful truths through their children.
Meanwhile, God was laying it on Gretta’s heart to encourage moms of young children. Gretta studied women’s ministry at Multnomah where we met and were college roommates and had a knack for connecting with women and meeting them where they’re at. We were talking on the phone one day and realized that God had given us the exact same vision to provide digestible devotions for moms of young children to encourage and strengthen them in their role as mothers. That’s when the idea of Grit & Grace was born. Q: Who did you write Grit & Grace for? What stage of motherhood will get the most encouragement from reading your book?
SHG: We wrote Grit & Grace for moms of young children. We’re looking at the season that encompasses babies, toddlers and early elementary school. Many times, if they have multiple children, mamas are navigating all of these stages at once. While the stories focus on the young children years, the truths from God’s Word apply to mamas (and even grandmas) at all stages. We have had Grandmas comment that they feel encouraged to show greater intentionality toward their grandchildren. Q: What does it mean to you to have grit and grace?
Gretta Kennedy (GK): Having grit is pushing through the hard stuff of motherhood with determination and laser-focus on the end goal of raising children who love and serve Jesus. Having grace means realizing that God offers you peace, rest and help in this season and as well as being kind to your children and especially yourself! Q: Can you describe the format of the book? How much time does each devotional take to read?
SHG:Grit & Grace is a 90-Day devotional, and our concept was to provide quick-read nuggets of truth for busy mamas. These devos should take no longer than five minutes to get through, and the Scripture passage is included so you don’t even have to go find your Bible. The idea is that these can be read in the tiny spaces in a mama’s day—while the kids are napping or she’s nursing the baby. Each daily devotion includes a true story of motherhood and delves into a spiritual truth that was learned through the experience. Each devotion also includes a prayer to allow busy moms to respond the devotion in the moment. Q: When is the best time for you to do your own devotions? Early in the morning, during nap time or after the kids are in bed? GK: The few times I was able to sit down and actually read my Bible when the kids were little, I found that naptime worked best for me. I was never awake enough in the morning, then I’d be completely exhausted at night. During the time my kids were tiny, I often felt like a failure in this department. That’s when I learned my devotional time needed to be throughout the day. I wrote verses on notecards and put them up in the kitchen cupboards. I played worship music all day long. I wrote messages on my bathroom mirror. Those were the ways I found I could consistently have my quiet time. Mommy brain is pretty mushy, so I took it in little spurts. I recited the same verse over and over and eventually, those were the sweetest messages I got from God.
SHG: I do best when I have devotional time interspersed throughout the day. I like to pray and listen to worship music while I’m loading the dishwasher. When I want to go a little deeper, I usually dig in after the kids have gone to bed. Like Gretta, I have often felt like a failure in this area. I want to be an amazing mommy, but I neglect the One who can help me. One of the reasons I wanted to write a devotional like this was to help exhausted moms like me, who couldn’t seem to find the time and space for daily devotional time.
Gretta Kennedy
Q: Before you had children, what did you expect motherhood to be like? What surprised you most when you became a mother? GK: I did a lot of babysitting as a kid and young adult, so I at least knew that kids aren’t perfect, and taking care of them can be pretty tiring. But the thing that surprised me the most was the huge responsibility of motherhood. I was the one who needed to be the expert on my child. No one else would know her like I did. Also, being a mother is totally different from being the babysitter! I was responsible for everything…not just this little person. The house, the food, the everything…oh yeah, and the children.
SHG: I have worked with kids since I was a teen. In fact, I met my husband when he struck up a conversation with me about children’s ministry. I always assumed I’d take to motherhood like a fish to water. I was wrong. The stress of being a mom revealed many of my weaknesses, such as being unskilled at managing our home and all the little demands of motherhood. It also revealed my selfishness as I was pushed to put others before myself again and again.
Q: What was one of the biggest pressures you felt as a new mom? In what ways did you feel insecure? GK: I wanted to do everything right and have the perfect child. I wanted to be super mom. I wanted to be super wife. And I think that pressure came from within me, not so much from outside influences. I quickly learned that I was human and couldn’t do it all…especially maintain a clean home, serve a healthy dinner on time, and be everything my husband needed as well. It was impossible. I had to find a different and new rhythm and realistic expectations.
SHG: I struggled with not feeling cut out for motherhood. I was awkward interacting in mom circles, and I didn’t feel as knowledgeable as other moms. I kind of bumbled through the daily mechanics of caring for children. In my 10-year career as an editor at a major Christian organization, I had felt competent every day and received steady praise for my contributions. For the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t “good” at my job and though my babies were adorable, they didn’t offer me the kudos for my work I’d received in the workplace. I compared myself to the super-moms around me and saw myself coming up so short. As a perfectionist, it was an adjustment to find that, in some ways, I wasn’t a natural at being a mom. God had to take me on a very specific journey of accepting who He made me to be and realizing that He had teamed me up with my kids, with both my strengths and weaknesses in mind. That was powerful.
Q: Suzanne, you write that your spiritual life took a hit after you became a mom. In what ways?
SHG: Spiritual disciplines have always been an area of weakness for me. Even before kids, I struggled to meet with the Lord at a consistent time each day. However, I did find time to get in the Word daily and received consistent spiritual input through working at a Christian organization, being plugged in at church and attending multiple Bible studies during my single years. I had my first child a year and a half after I got married and decided to stay home. I quickly became isolated and overwhelmed and struggled to find time to even crack open the Bible. I felt too tired to pray. I realized many of the struggles I was experiencing, such as a negative view on life, conflicts with my husband and anger toward my children were the bad fruit of a life that wasn’t connected to the True Vine. But it was more difficult than it ever had been to sit at Jesus’ feet and be refreshed by Him. Q: Gretta, you write about losing your identity when you became a mom. Was it something you realized all at once or was it gradual? What would you like readers to realize about their true identity? GK: I had quite the cool job before I became a mom, and I loved what I did. A young newlywed and capable and trusted in an outdoor adventure-based ministry, I found great fulfillment in my marriage and career. When our daughter was born, my life was consumed with her. Being a good mom and knowing my daughter’s every need became my top priority, and I genuinely loved it. But around the 6-month mark, it dawned on me that every conversation I had with others always revolved around mom life. It no longer mattered what I did prior to becoming a mother, and no one really cared anymore about my relationship with my husband. It was all about my daughter. I had become just a mom.
I really struggled with that because I felt there was so much more to me, but none of that mattered anymore. “Mom” was it for me from here on out. Then God reminded me very clearly that titles are not my true identity. My identity needs to be found in him alone because that will never change. So truths like “daughter of the King” and “chosen” and “forgiven” became the identities I tried to focus on. This is so important for moms to remember. The little children years are so demanding that we can forget how God sees us. We are so much more than moms. We are redeemed! We are gifted! We are loved! If we can keep our identity centered as God sees us, then as we go through changes in life, our foundation won’t be shaken and we will be more free to live as God truly intended.
Q: What are some of the topics you cover in the devotionals?
SHG: We talk about perfectionism, comparison, joy, gratefulness, fear, rejection, weariness, calling, tenacity (grit) and hope (grace). Our subtitle is Devotions for Warrior Moms, and that is how we view mamas. They are on the front lines guiding their children to God’s truth and aiming them at the target—Jesus. Grit & Grace talks about the gamut of emotions mothers of young children face, both good and bad. Q: Do either of you have a favorite devotional in the book?
SHG: My favorite devotional is titled “(Gingerbread) Man Down.” I talk about how my daughter accidentally broke two gingerbread men ornaments that had been a gift from a coworker. They had sentimental value, and I yelled at her when she broke them. A few weeks later, she presented me with a new gingerbread man ornament. It was gaudy and glittery and painted with bold colors. She told me, “Mommy, this gingerbread man is even more beautiful than the ones I broke.” In the devotion, I talk about how that is what God does for us. He fixes our broken places and gives us something more beautiful than what we started with. Q: As your kids have started to grow up, what are some of the things you miss about having kids at the youngest stages? GK: I miss the simplicity of sitting on the couch and reading stories, the chair in the kitchen while they help mix ingredients, and the funny ways the kids pronounced words and phrases!
SHG: Mine are still pretty young, but with the older ones, I miss their absolute need and dependence on me…just wanting to be with me every second for no apparent reason. Isn’t that a picture of my Heavenly Father and me? I am absolutely dependent on Him and should crave to be with Him every day. And I miss all the kisses and hugs. My 2-year-old is still the best at those!
Q: If moms only take away one thing from reading Grit & Grace, what do you hope they learn?
SHG: We hope they will feel encouraged and empowered that God has chosen them for their specific children. They are called to this. There are so many sweet moments that come along with the difficult ones. As one pre-reader said, “Grit & Grace is helping me treasure hunt for grace in the challenging moments of motherhood and remember to savor the sweet moments I want to be etched deep into my heart forever.” Yes. That.
There are some critical questions to pose before accepting one of the credit card offers
likely to appear in your mailbox this month. Sandwiched between the incredible interest
rates and outrageous cardholder rewards there are some rather stark realities.
Evaluating credit card offers is about a whole lot more than going with whoever dangles
the most delectable looking carrot. There can be pretty sharp sticks hiding in there too.
Here’s what you need to consider to understand what’s really going on.
Your Spending Habits
Why do you feel you need a credit card? What will you be using it to do? Is it to serve as
a safety blanket for emergency situations, or will you use it for routine buys? Do you
plan to use it primarily when traveling?
Different offers serve these scenarios in different ways
Travel perks might dictate your choice in one circumstance, where deferred interest
might make more sense in another situation. The only way to determine which offer will
serve you best in these regards is to take a good look at your spending habits before you
agree to accept a card.
Associated Costs
Does the card have an annual fee? How much is it? Will the perks that come with having
the card outweigh the annual fee? What’s the annual percentage rate? What happens if
you don’t pay the balance in full each month? What happens if you do?
If you’re using the card heavily, you’ll rack up a lot more rewards than if you use the
card infrequently. If that rewards card has an annual fee, it might not be worth it. If
you’re just starting out and all you can get is a secured card, can you afford to have it?
How do they want you to come up with the security cash? Will complying deplete your savings?
The Devil in the Details
Every offer looks better than the next—until you comb through the six-point type on the
back of the application. That’s where you’ll learn that deferred interest they’re touting
so heavily applies only to your first purchase with the card.
What does the interest rate go up to when that zero percent deal expires? How much
are they going to charge for late payments or cash advances. What happens if all you
can make is the minimum payment?
Speaking of which, should you ever find yourself in a situation in which you cannot
afford the minimum payments on your obligations, you’ll do well to avail yourself of the 2 services of a company like Freedom Debt Relief. They can help you develop a plan to get your finances back on track.
Your Credit Score
This can be a significant factor when it comes to determining the nature of the deal you
can get from a credit card issuer. While you might be getting all sorts of mouth-watering
offers from card companies, if you look closely, they always say something like “On
approved credit.” Or, “These deals are reserved for those with excellent credit.”
This doesn’t mean they won’t issue a card. Instead you’ll get a deal far less appealing
than the advertised offer. If you don’t review the details, you might be surprised to
learn the card you actually got carries a 30-percent APR instead of the zero percent you
were expecting. You can check your credit report free of charge once each year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
These are four of the primary factors you should bear in mind when you’re evaluating
credit card offers. Always take your time and read over every word of the proposition
very carefully before you submit an application. You should then read everything again
when the card arrives—before you use it—to be sure the deal you signed is the one
you’re getting. For more on this subject visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
site at ConsumerFinance.Gov.
This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and vision do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
As the Happy Helpers from Mickey and the Roadster Racers, BFFs Minnie and Daisy take center stage as they tackle super-tough tasks and help friends who need a hand: judging a surfing contest in Hawaii, solving a doozy of a mystery, photographing a rare rainforest bird and much more! Then, watch Minnie rock out onstage at Hot Dog Hills Stadium! Featuring two bonus music videos, Bow Be Mineamps up the fun to a whole new level of awesome.
Voice Cast: Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse; Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck; Bret Iwan as Mickey Mouse; Daniel Ross as Donald Duck; Bill Farmer as Goofy; Jim Cummings as Pete; and Jay Leno as Billy Beagle.
Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca
Co-Executive
Producer
and Supervising
Story Editor: Mark Seidenberg
Bonus: 2 Music Videos
Episodes:
Super-Charged: Pop Star Helpers
Meet the Beagles!
Daisy’s Photo Finish!
The Hot Diggity Dog Show
The Hiking Honeybees
Thrillin’ Hilda!
Teed Off (Season 1)
Grandpa vs. Grandpa
Cuckoo in Paris
Tree House Trouble
My Fair Pete
A Doozy Night of Mystery
Ratings: TV-Y (US); G (CE/CF)
Run Time: 132 minutes excluding bonus
Giveaway:
Disney is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Minnie: Bow Be Mine DVD! Thank you to Disney for the review DVD and for sponsoring this Minnieriffic Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open To US Residents.
Disney Minnie: Bow Be Mine DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!
Saint Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re like me, you love the romantic feeling in the air. Even if you don’t have a significant other or spouse in your life, you can celebrate the love between yourself and your children, grandchildren, family and friends.
I think one of the best Valentine’s Day memories I have is the time my sister and I saw a pair of Valentine’s Day Boxers in a store window. They were part of a gift set, along with a chattering red heart, that had, “My Heart Beat For You” on the top. You could wind up the heart, and it chattered around a flat surface, much like infamous chattering teeth. I am sure it was the chattering teeth that made us beg our mom to buy them for my father. We carried on until she entered the store and bought them.
These are very similar to the set we bought my father. Photo Source Collectors Weekly
Excited, we wrapped them up as soon as we arrived home and gave them to our father. Our dad went on for our sake, about how much he liked them. I was very interested in trying out the chattering heart. After that night, I would go into my dad’s dresser where the boxers and heart sat in their gift box. Every so often, I would go in, wind up the heart play with it for a while, and return it to the box. I wondered why my dad had not yet worn those loud heart boxers. Year after year, they remained in the drawer, right up until they sold the house to move closer to my sister and I, now married with kids of our own. I am not sure where those boxers ended up after that, but it sure is a memory, I don’t think I will ever forget. He obviously treasured those boxers so much, he could not bear the thought of wearing them. At least that is what I choose to believe.
These are similar to the boxers we bought my father. Photo Source Collectors Weekly
Another Valentine’s Day treat I made for my family.
Giveaway
We have a very special giveaway sponsored by Catholic Central to share with you for a St. Valentine’s Day Kit
The St. Valentine Kit includes:
1 – Red Rose LED Glass Dome elegant table lamp.
1 – Gold tone “Love” bangle bracelet
1 – Perfume card
Check out my short video below to see more:
Let me know your special Valentine’s Day Memory in the comments.
Catholic Central is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One very lucky blog reader will win a special Valentine’s Day Gift Package. Thank you to Catholic Central for the St. Valentine’s Day gift set and for sponsoring this very special giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.
Saint Valentine’s Gift Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
If you have little ones in school, you probably received a class list of your child’s classmates. With your list in hand, it is time to help your child with their Valentine’s Day cards, crafts or treats. With each passing year, I find this Valentine’s Day exchange lends itself to more than just little cards being passed around.
Little bags of candy, pencils, cookies and more are becoming the norm. If your child is having a class party, there are really cute things you can create to make even an ordinary juice box festive.
A Juicy Juice Family occasion survey, found thatone in four parents (23%) will show their love by decorating for Valentine’s Day. Check out these Valentine’s Day craft ideas from Juicy Juice. These crafts are easy and fun to do with your kids and they will love sharing them with their friends.
Valentine’s Love Bots
Juicy Juice has the perfect craft idea for you and your little sweethearts to do this Valentine’s Day! Consider making these super fun Valentine’s love bots! Here’s what you’ll need:
Materials: Googly eyes
Tape
Glue
Scissors Markers Pipe cleaners
Valentine’s Day decorations such as hearts
2-5 used 6.75 oz Juicy Juice boxes
Valentine’s Day gift wrap
On the most romantic day of the year, your little ones will enjoy making this simple two-step craft. It can function as a vase or a multipurpose jar, and as a gift to a loved one! Here’s what you’ll need:
Materials:
White acrylic paint
Red acrylic paint
Pink acrylic paint Mason jar
Paint brush
Everyone loves cards that pop, so we made one for you! This card is a perfect craft to make with the family and share with everybody. We hope you heart it as much as we do.
Materials
Scissors (or precision knife – parents only) Pink or red construction paper
Template (included)
Glue stick
Ruler
Valentine’s Day and all of its traditions can be a fun occasion to show your loved ones you care. While exchanging candy is fun, celebrating the holiday with unique recipes can be even more exciting. Juicy Juice came up with a simple, adorable Valentine’s Day snack that will delight and offer a fresh take on sharing hearts.
Materials
Roma tomatoes
Basil leaves
Cheese squares of preference Toothpicks
Adorable puppy brothers Bingo and Rolly are back! Join the doggy duo on amazing missions: deep-sea diving in the Great Barrier Reef, fetching a four-leaf clover in Ireland, running all over Down Under, and much more! Then, meet their brand-new puppy pal Keia in two exciting bonus episodes! Packed with action, music and a ton of silly fun, these playtime adventures will leave you howling with laughter!
Voice Cast: Issac Ryan Brown as Bingo; Sam Lavagnino as Rolly; Harland Williams as Bob; Jessica DiCicco as Hissy; and Tom Kenny as A.R.F.
Creator/
Consulting Producer: Harland Williams
Executive Producer: Sean Coyle
Episodes: The Great Pug-scape / Luck of The Pug-ish
Scuba-Doggies / Walking the Bob
Captain Rolly / The Coolest Dogs in Town
The Legend of Ol’ Snapper / Adventures in Puppy-Sitting
Bob’s Boomerang / Fetch That Fish
Bonus: Episodes 1 and 2 from Season 2:
A New Pup in Town / The Last Pup-icorn
Keia’s New Doghouse / The Fang Fairy
8 “Playtime with Puppy Dog Pals” shorts
Release Date: January 22, 2019
Ratings: TV-G (US); G (CE/CF)
Run Time: 110 minutes (not including bonus)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen (Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions)
Audio: English, French & Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English SDH, French & Spanish
Closed Captions: English
Do your kids or grandkids like the Puppy Dog Pals? Let me know in the comments.
We have seen more advances in ecommerce over the past ten years, than at any previous period in the history of the industry. Underpinning these gains; are massive leaps in technology and its applications. Let’s take a look at some of the more dynamic technologies helping ecommerce to evolve.
Mobile Computing
There was a time, not so long ago, when the vast majority of personal computing took place on desktop machines such as IBM’s PC and Apple’s Macintosh. While both devices still hold considerable sway, handheld computers such Android-based smartphones as well as iPhones and iPads have surpassed their static predecessors for functions such as email and ecommerce transactions.
When you fold the rise of social media into the equation, retailers now have the ability to entice shoppers with deals and close the sale all on the same device—regardless of where the shopper might be physically, or what they’re doing. In fact, more and more people are whiling away what used to be idle moments shopping online.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
According to Forbes.com, these two advances are redefining the online shopping experience.
Forbes Council member Alexandro Pando says, “The advent of virtual and augmented reality technologies has provisioned e-commerce vendors with an avenue to display their wares in immersive detail, comparable to the real-life experience.”
He cites the debut of virtual reality options on eBay and website themes provider Shopify as examples of this. Shopify now offers “Thread Store”, its personalized virtual reality application, while eBay has created a full-featured virtual reality store.
These advances give shoppers the ability to “use” products before making purchases. This has the potential to improve customer satisfaction considerably. In turn, this will minimize returns—one of the most expensive aspects of running an ecommerce business.
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
Chatbots have revolutionized customer support. Given how many customer concerns tend to be manifestations of the same issues, customer service automation is just a logical thing to do, but that’s just the beginning.
According to the digital customer communications firm Acquire, examples of artificial intelligence automation tools range from customer service applications to voice-powered assistants such as Apple’s Siri, Google’s Home and Amazon’s Echo.
The company’s research found some 40 percent of millennials are already using voice search for online shopping. This bodes well for the future of this technology in ecommerce.
What’s more, in addition to customer service, Acquire says applications for chatbots include ordering food, scheduling flights, booking hotel rooms, checking luggage at airports, and getting recommendations regarding anything you can think of.
Meanwhile, machine-learning technologies have enabled retailers to provide highly personalized shopping experiences, wherein customers can be guided directly to merchandise with specific appeal for them. This too has led to massive gains in customer satisfaction, as well as increased purchases.
Automated Fulfillment
If ecommerce can be said to have an Achilles Heel, it’s the wait customers must endure between the time they make a purchase and receive their merchandise. This is a significant issue in our instant gratification society.
To counter this, amazing advances in automation have taken place, which in turn have fostered the viability of the largest fulfillment centers ever created. Robotics, self-driving trucks and drones are among the approaches the world’s largest retailer is taking to minimize the interval between payment and delivery.
Even a cursory glance inside one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers leaves minds blown at the degree of automation on display. And remarkably, these developments are in their nascent stages.
With these technologies helping ecommerce to evolve, the business model has grown by leaps and bounds since the first legal internet purchase was made back in August of 1994. Seeing how far things have come makes anticipating the future even more exciting.
This is a collaborative guest post. The words and views do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
If you live where Old Man Winter reins, then you know those months can be long and cold. Many people dream of a white Christmas , but after weeks of frigid temperatures, snow, wind and ice, it gets old fast.
No one wants to be trapped in the house with cabin fever, especially if you have kids. If the winter blues have you down, get out and enjoy some winter activities with your kids. Skating, skiing, sledding, snowboarding and more will let you all burn off energy and make the winter months fun, instead of a drag.
Although spending active time outside in the winter can be fun for your children, it’s important to take precautions. Here are six ways you can help keep your child safe while participating in fun, outdoor winter activities.
Safety First
Always discuss safety with your children before allowing them to participate in any outdoor winter activities, such as ice-skating, sledding, snowboarding, and skiing.
If your children are old enough to walk to the activity area, talk to them about being extra careful to stay out of the traffic flow and look both ways before crossing streets.
According to a Noll personal injury lawyer: “ The motorist has a duty to operate their vehicle safely in regard to other motorists and pedestrians on the roadway.” Unfortunately, according to the CDC, nine people per day are killed in the U.S. due to the negligence of a distracted driver.
If your child is planning on snowboarding or sledding, make sure they’re going to an area that’s not too steep. It’s also imperative that trees and large rocks are at a minimum, because they can be a hazards for a children speeding down the slopes.
If your child is ice-skating somewhere other than an ice rink, make sure the ice is thick enough to support a skater. When in doubt, don’t let your child go out on the ice.
Enroll in Lessons
You may need to consider lessons depending on what type of activities your child wants to participate in. For example, if your child wants to ski, some lessons would be in order. Knowing how to properly do an activity can help prevent injuries.
Dress in Layers
Dressing in layers is a helpful strategy for keeping your child warm as they enjoy the great outdoors. Did you know, there’s a right way and a wrong way to layer clothing? First of all, you might want to dress a very young child with one more layer of clothing than you would wear, because younger bodies don’t regulate temperature as well as adult bodies.
Start with a snug base layer of wool or a synthetic fabric like polyester. This base layer needs to wick moisture away so, cotton is not a good choice because it absorbs perspiration.
A middle layer is next, which will serve to insulate. Opt for wool, fleece or down. The garment should fit snug to the body, but not be restraining in any way. Finally, there’s the outer layer that will protect your child from the elements, such as snow, rain and wind. A waterproof jacket that’s breathable is perfect for physical activity. The jacket needs to be large enough to fit over the layers and allow plenty of movement.
4.Wear Protective Gear
In addition to layers of proper clothing, quality protective gear is vital for outdoor winter activities. Injuries, such as concussions and eye issues, can occur during winter activities. Make sure everyone has protective helmets for skiing, snowboarding and sledding, as well as goggles. Knee and elbow pads may also be helpful.
Make Sure Gear Fits
While you may be tempted to let your younger child wear protective gear handed down from your older child or relative, be cautious. Children should only wear gear that’s in good condition and fits properly. Improperly fitting equipment can lead to a loss of control during outdoor activities and possible injuries. Also, if the equipment or accessories are too big, they could slip off your child, leaving them unprotected.
Keep Them Hydrated
In the heat of the summer, it’s easy to tell when you child needs to drink more water during activities, because they’re usually hot and sweaty. In the winter, kids don’t feel as thirsty and are less likely to drink enough water.
Even though they may not sweat as they do in the summer, they may still be sweating. In colder temperatures, sweat can evaporate quickly. Kids’ bodies can lose fluids in other ways too, such as, through respiration. When the temperatures are cold enough for them to see their breath, their bodies are losing water vapor.
Encourage your children to take a water bottle and drink from it regularly during winter activities
This is a collaborative guest post, the ideas and opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
