Dyson Light Ball Upright Vacuum

When I was younger there was nothing I loved more than drawing. Putting pencil to paper and creating something beautiful. For years now I have been curious about graphics tablets and how easy it is to create with them. Ugee sent me their Ugee M1000L Graphics Tablet to try out so I could see just how great digital drawing is.
It took me a little bit to figure out how to get it working…the buttons would work, but I couldn’t get my computer to accept it as a mouse. So I just rebooted the computer with the tablet still plugged in and it worked like a charm. Let’s talk a little about the features first.
Ugee M1000L offers a great value for its price. It features:
Many customizable buttons for better productivity
2048 level of pressure sensitivity, to control the quality of your artwork
Large active working area which is good of precise drawing
Great customer support from Ugee.
The Ugee M1000L has 8 shortcut keys, which is more than comparable graphic tablets. More buttons means better productivity for you. It also has 16 hot-cell keys across the top. Each of these buttons has an icon telling you what they do by default, so that you don’t have to use the keyboard or mouse so much…but the best thing about these is they are customizable which is great for me because I do not use Word/Excel etc or Msn…so I can customize it for them to open Photoshop or ArtRage instead.
Ugee M1000L offers a spacious 10×6″ active drawing area. It does not offer wireless capability, but does offer a 4′ cord. The pen is easy to set up and use. It also comes with 8 pen tips just in case the pen tip gets worn down. The Ugee M1000L works with both Windows & Mac.
Ugee M1000L supports the following programs:
Adobe Photoshop Autodesk Sketchbook Express Manga Studio Paint Tool SAI AI Krita
Ugee Fun 2 – Which comes with the tablet
Overall I’ve very pleased with the quality and price of this tablet. My little guys are more into drawing than I am these days…I can’t wait to see what they create!
BUY IT
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good 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.”
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As parents we want to protect our little ones in every way possible… especially when there little! Sun protection these days are supper important….If you’re looking for serious sun protection for your little one this summer, you will love the Snapper Rock Bucket Hats & Sun-suits! They boast UV50+ protection and come in variable sizes. I love the hats because they protect kids from the sun, but they are also quick drying, light-weight, breathable, and have an adjustable toggle to create a snug fit. I’m sure anyone with little ones will agree it can be a struggle to keep hats on them in the summer sun or at the beach, so the toggle is a huge help! The Sun-Suits are great! They fit comfortably, and are quick drying, lightweight and breatheable. Blocking 98% of all harmful rays, these sun suits will protect your baby’s delicate skin. Easy open front zip with zip protection flap, and flat lock stitching for extra comfort. Little man was so excited to wear his new “swim suit”! Snapper Rock is New Zealand owned and based out of Annapolis, Maryland. They’ve tested their product lines under the harsh NZ sun. Their entire swimwear line has been designed, tested, and certified by the governments in both New Zealand and Australia. Since Snapper Rock was developed in a world famous surfing, swimming, and fishing spot, they know their stuff and have an entire swimwear line you can choose from as well. For clothing to be able to protect from the sun, it has to have an Ultra Violet Protection Factor (UPF) and the scale of protection ranges from 15 to 50+. The higher the UPF, the higher the protection from UV rays. (UPF describes protection related to clothing, SPF describes protection related to sunscreen). All Snapper Rock swimwear has a UPF rating of 50+, blocking 98% of all harmful rays.  I can’t get over how cute little man looks in the bucket hat & sun-suit, and his cousin has a matching set, only in girl colors ! They have an incredible variety of rash tops, board shorts, swim sets, and infant sun-suits to choose from and they’re designed for active kids, so functionality, flexibility, and extreme comfort were taken into account when creating this swimwear.
You can purchase on their site!
One Lucky winner will receive a Sun-Suit & Bucket Hat. This giveaway is open to residents in US; 18+. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm before a forfeit is assumed. Giveaway will runs July 24, 2012 @ 12:01AM – August 7, 2012 @ 11:59PM (EST).
Disclosure: I received a product(s) for review purposes only, however I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Snapper Rocck has not influenced the editorial nature of this post, and No other compensation was received. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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While in LA last week for the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales we also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Disney’s Bambi! As part of this celebration we were able to sit down and interview the voices behind young Bambi ( Donald “Donnie” Dunagan ) & young Thumper ( Peter Behn ) moderated by Disney Archivist Becky Cline!!
While Disney’s Bambi was based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by author Felix Salten, it was altered slightly from the book version. The original novel, written for an adult audience, was considered too “grim” and “somber” for the young audience Disney was targeting, and with the work required to adapt the novel, Disney put production on hold while it worked on several other works. Bambi was originally supposed to come out after Snow White (and be the second animated film released) but came out 5 yrs later due to this process. Disney was also forced to slash 12 minutes from the film before final animation, to save costs on production.
The filming studio moved, WW2 happened, and there was even a strike during the process of filming!
Nowadays when a movie releases there are many interviews in both tv & print, but the film scene was quite different 75 years ago when Donnie Dunagan and Peter Behn recorded the voices of Bambi & Thumper. In fact, Donnie & Peter didn’t even meet untill about 10 years ago! Even Donnie’s wife didn’t know he was the voice of Bambi until she discovered a box of his mementos buried in the attic!
Peter’s father was a screenwriter, starting in the 20’s silent film era, & children’s book author. He met Walt sometime in the 30’s which helped Peter launch his career. Peter originally auditioned for the part of Bambi in Disney’s classic film but was told had the wrong voice for the part.
“My voice was right for the rabbit”
Peter never auditioned for Thumper, after his audition for Bambi they knew he had the right voice for Thumper.
When Peter grew up he built houses & worked in real estate.
Q: Did you see the Bambi after you filmed?
A: “No not for some time.”
Q: What was it like to work with Disney himself?
A: “I did meet him but not on a regular basis. But I remember the Disney zoo where they had little deer so animators could watch the anatomy and movement of the deer to draw.”
Q: What was it like to work on a big Disney film as a child?
A: “I remember going into the sound booth with a voice director to read my lines. I would mimic him. The thing I remember most is the recording equipment was in the booth with us and was fascinated. It was so mechanical.”
Q: What do you hope for Bambi’s Legacy?
A: “One of my strongest feelings about the movie is that Disney was so ahead of his time. I think the movie was so far ahead of it’s time to protect the environment. We have to do everything we can to keep the environment from getting worse. I think as time goes on that aspect of the movie will resonate and become more important.”
”We were dirt poor. And I mean, certified dirt poor in the South. And my mother would take me down to the corner about two blocks away where a wonderful man danced on the corner on Saturday. I’m standing there at 3 ½, four years old, people were there laughing about this wonderful man dancing on the corner for nickels and pennies. And I started imitating him. Then they decided to put me in a talent contest and I won the darn thing which was a miracle. I danced to ‘A Tisket a Tasket’ with a paper bag and a stick for a cane.” In the audience was a wonderful man who was a bona fide genuine talent scout in those days. About two weeks later we’re in Los Angeles.”
Donnie started filming Bambi when he was just 5 years old but his acting career began at the age of 3.
He was in 7 movies before the age of 5 1/2 yrs old.
When Donnie grew up he joined the Marine Corps.
Q: What was it like acting so much as a child?
A: “I was a little boy – sometimes I just wanted to be home riding my bike and playing with my puppy.”
Q: Did you see Bambi after you filmed?
A: “I saw it with Peter in theaters at the premiere.”
Q: What was it like seeing Walt Disney?
A: “When I first saw Mr. Disney I thought he’d get a broom and help clean up….he participated in things. Disney was successful bc he had such great leadership and participated in what was going on.”
Q: What did you do after Bambi?
A: ” I went into the US Marine Corps. when I got older. In 1977 I was a battalion commander. I saw that Disney was going to re-release Bambi and I was horrified that my base would find out. I could imagine all of my soldiers saying that their battalion commander was Bambi!”
Q: What do you hope for Bambi’s Legacy?
A: “If I live to be 1000 years old I couldn’t say it better than Peter did. The environmental profile is spoken to children in school now, and they pick up on that right away. I get one of these by children a month from all over the world.”
Photo by: Louise Manning Bishop from MOM START
During this day of celebration we were also able to chat with Paul Felix, a Disney animator who worked on Bambi and was inspired by the original Disney Animator Tyrus Wong.
Q: How has animation changed over the years?
A: “Animation starts with hand drawing, that hasn’t changed much. Things need to be much richer now. The drawings from Bambi to Moana are all the same principles.”
Q: How did you become interested in art?
A: “I drew a lot as a child & always thought my older brother was the artist in the family.”
Q: What are some of the projects you’ve worked on here at Disney?
A: “Mulan, Bolt, Big Hero 6, Inner Workings”
Q: What was your favorite film to work on?
A: Lilo & Stitch. It is more about heart and storytelling than the effects although Big Hero 6 was the first time we could technologically add things to the film & use light.
“Designing Bambi is deceptively tricky! I’m known for designing environments instead of characters. I looked at some of Mark Davis’ drawing of deer for research. My first drawings Bambi looked more like a fox. But everyone has their own unique take.”
Q: Why do you think Bambi is such a popular film?
A: “Bambi is a cycle of life. It shares the beauty, mystery, & reality of the world. It’s zen. What’s more primal than the connection with a mother? Films are an extension of us.”
Make a Portfolio. (life drawing is a good talent)
Don’t limit yourself to just drawing. Try colors.
Learn a sense of art history (eras, mediums, etc)
Bambi, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, joins the Collection on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on May 23, and on Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on June 6. The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of Bambi; deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that Bambi had on the studio, other films and artists; and much much more! Additionally, the Digital HD release includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the incredible artist, Tyus Wong, who inspired the film’s soft watercolor backgrounds and beautiful palette.
Brand New:
The Bambi Effect – “Bambi” was full of innovations for its time. Let’s take a look at how those past innovations affected future Disney animated titles all the way up to today
Studio Stories: “Bambi” – Recordings of Walt Disney. Listen in on intimate moments where he discussed the challenges, pitfalls and triumphs during the production of “Bambi.”
Deleted Scene: Bambi’s Ice And Snow – Bambi coaxes Thumper and his brothers and sister to come play on the ice during the first snow.
Bambi Fawn Facts – Think you know everything there is to know about Bambi and his forest companions? Well, it’s time to discover some fun real-life facts about the creatures that live in the forest he calls home.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: “Africa Before Dark” – Oswald Short
Celebrating Tyrus Wong (Digital Exclusive) – A Heartfelt look at the man who played a key role in the success of “Bambi.” Much like Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle, Tyrus Wong had a unique signature style all to his own. The Soft Water-colored backgrounds and beautiful palettes in “Bambi” were inspired by Tyrus’ concept art paintings.
Classic:
Deleted Scenes – Two Leaves, Bambi Stuck on a Reed, Winter Grass, Twitterpated
The Making of Bambi: A Prince is Born
Trick of the Trade (Excerpt)
Inside The Disney Archives
The Old Mill: Animated Short
Original Theatrical Trailer
The Golden Age
*Digital Bonus Offerings May Very by Retailer
Bambi will be released on Digital HD 5/23 and Blu-ray & DVD 6/6.
Follow Facebook | Disney Animation #Bambi
DISNEY MOVIE REWARDS BONUS: If you have Disney Movie Rewards and purchase Bambi you have the option to buy this special tank top featuring the Paul Felix art inspired by BAMBI here! Ends July 31!

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Many people suffer from a lack of confidence. And the lack of self-esteem can have many detrimental effects on your life. Whether it comes from experience is that you’ve had in the past, or just negative thoughts that you have about yourself, they should be ways in which you can improve your self-esteem and confidence, to prevent feeling low and have any issues with your mental health. Negative thoughts, lead to negative thinking, and this is a vicious cycle that can cause you distress. At the end of the day, you need to take care of yourself, as you can’t pour from an empty cup. If your self-esteem issues come from other peoples Opinions and actions, then the first thing to do is to prevent the person or people having any power over your thoughts. A lot of this is easier said than done, but if you work hard, and boost your own confidence you should feel much better in no time.
Improve in your education and knowledge can give you a sense of confidence and a sense of self-esteem that not many other things can produce. If you have a specific reason for going back to school, or just learning a new craft, then, of course, you will need to work hard at it. But many people take up courses, read things on the blog, and come up with new ways of doing things, just so they can add to their skill set. Learning new things when it comes to your workplace as well can give you a little bit of knowledge that will help you gain an advantage, And maybe even that promotion over time. This can be a huge boost in confidence and even if the promotion doesn’t happen then you may feel the benefits from just knowing how to do your job very effectively. It isn’t always just about the actual knowledge that you learn, but the process of learning new things can actually give you a sense of achievement that you can’t find elsewhere.
Exercise
Feeling fit and healthy and doing plenty of exercises is a great way to boost your confidence, making sure that you are strong and preventing illnesses is going to of course give you the benefit of health, and this can also in 10 boost your confidence. Exercise also has a wonderful side-effect of helping you tone up and feel great physically. This means that close fit you well, and you are at your best. Well, it’s not all about looks, many people feel much better when they are at peak physical health. Endorphins can also give you a wonderful sense of well-being and this has also been reported to improve somebody’s overall mindset. With exercise you usually end up meeting other people, and making connections, this social interaction is also something that can help us feel more confident and happy about ourselves.
Positive Interactions
Positive interactions with other people are highly regarded as one of the main things that can help our mental health. We are social creatures and this only help serve our overall confidence and positive outlook on life. So going for a coffee with a friend isn’t a waste of time, it’s also a wonderful way to connect and end up with some amazing friendships. With friendship comes positive interaction, and as long as these people are positive and complimentary to your life then you will be on the right track. There is a scientific side to this thought process, and your brain really helps you to feel great when you are having plenty of interaction and positive activity.
Whether it’s just getting ready and getting on with your day that you struggle with, or whether you receive the trophy in your chosen sport hobby, there are plenty of opportunities to achieve great things. This could mean that you gain praise from others and a sense of well-being and achievement that will ultimately give you some more self-esteem and boosting your confidence. Lining up those certificates, medals, or even just words of praise can help you feel good about yourself and your achievements. Hard work always pays off in the end as we know, and put in some hard work and effort in and seeing the results of that are wonderful ways to boost your self. If you don’t have any goals right now, then it might be a good idea to try working out what you can do and set yourself some goals. Having goals and achieving them can boost your self-esteem and confidence no end.
Comfort Zone
Going out of your comfort zone and doing something that you wouldn’t normally it is a terrifying prospect to most of us. There may be something that you want to do but you are too scared, so this is where going out of your comfort zone comes into play. There is a saying that a comfort zone is a wonderful place but nothing ever goes there, and if you want to grow your self-esteem and then you do have to go outside of your comfort zone and do things that you might not want to. Eventually though these things or pay off and you end up with growth and a feeling of wellness that is unparalleled. you may feel as though taking up a new sport, walking into a restaurant on your own, or even just going for a run is too far out of your comfort zone, but it has been proven that pushing yourself towards your goals, is a wonderful thing, providing that you are sensible, and it will benefit you in the long run. People that you admire for doing great things just took one step in the right direction out of their comfort zone, and you can do the same thing too.
So at the end of the day, whatever the reason for your low self-confidence remember that you are amazing and that you are capable of many great things. Whether it’s taking on a new challenge, going back to school, or even just doing something that scares you.

Once your little one is well acquainted with solids and is at least six months old, it’s time to introduce new tastes and textures to her palette. Continue to follow your baby’s cues. Go at her pace and do not move beyond simple solids before she’s ready.
When trying new flavors, gentle persistence may be necessary. Never, ever force feed your little one, but keep in mind that it often takes five or more tries before a baby takes to a new food. The more flavors you introduce, the more adventurous his palette will be later.
While still avoiding added salt and excess sugar, you can begin incorporating fresh herbs or mild spices to baby food, watching carefully for adverse or allergic reactions.
After introducing your baby to fruits and vegetables, you can begin serving mixtures. With so many fruits and vegetables to choose from, the possibilities for tasty combinations are endless.
No-Cook Tropical Fruits
2 Kiwifruit, peeled and quartered
1 papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
Place fruit in a food processor; process until smooth.
Yield; 2 cups or 8 (1/4 cup) servings
Apples, Pears, & Plums
2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and quartered
1 large golden delicious apple, peeled, cored, and quartered
2 plums, peeled, halved and pitted
Place pear, and apple in a vegetable steamer. Steam covered for 8 minutes. Add plums; cover and steam and additional 4 minutes or until all fruit is tender.
Place fruit in a food processor; process until smooth.
Yield; 2 cups or 8 (1/4 cup) servings
Blueberry Banana Yogurt
1 cup blueberries
1 whole banana
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons wheat germ
Use 1 cup of your already made blueberry puree OR Microwave the blueberries just until the juices start to run, about 30 seconds. Place the banana, yogurt and blueberries in a blender and puree until smooth.
Other combos to try;
Prune & Banana
Papaya & Mango
Pear & Prune
Veggie & Fruit Combos to try;
Apples & Butternut Squash
Squash & Peach
Avocado & Banana
Sweet Potato & Apricot
Sweet Potato & Peach
OTHER MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FOOD POSTS:
Vegies Stage 1
Fruit Stage 1
Vegies Stage 2
Sample Menu for 6-8 Months

Keeping hand soap around the house is a must have…and for me a must have with my hand soap is a great scent! I LOVE Softsoaps new premium line; the Décor Collection. The new premium liquid hand soap line is available in enticing scents of Peony & Plum, Orchid Petals & Mint Water, and Wild Basil & Lime in a package you’d be proud to display on every sink in your home. Colgate-Palmolive sent me all three scents from their collection for review…when they arrived I put them to use right away!
I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the scents from the Softsoap Decor Collection! The packaging is great too, but the scents..ahhh…And with diapers and the messes boys create you know I use them a lot! I have one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen..I chose the Peony & Plum for my bathroom..it smells floraly with just a hint of plum. I put the Orchid Petals & Mint Water in the boys bathroom..it has a soft orchid scent with a mild mint smell..very refreshing. The Wild Basil & Lime I chose for the Kitchen, well because they were “kitchen” scents to me…it has a strong, but not overwhelming lime scent. At only $2.49 for the 10oz bottles you can stock up and never run out of your favorite scent!
You can purchase these at mass retailers like, Target, CVS & Walgreens. There is currently a SoftsoapDécor Collection coupon available on Coupons.com too
WIN IT!! One lucky Mom of 4 Boys Reader will win a Soft Soap Decor Collection Prize Pack!! This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years old or older. Entering this giveaway means that you accept both my rules & disclosure. Be sure to add [email protected] to your contacts to make sure you get your winning email!
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