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In the Kitchen with Amelia

Welcome Amelia to the Critique of the Unique! Join Amelia in the kitchen for great down-home cooking ranging from appetizers, to tasty main dishes all the way through to awesomely delicious desserts!!

"Winnie the Pooh" in Theaters this July

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood this July and revisit your old time favorite characters!

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

In the Kitchen with Amelia

I am proud to introduce a new regular contributor to Critique of the Unique. Let's welcome AMELIA to the house!!!

Amelia will be sharing wonderful recipes and cooking related reviews and giveaways, so be certain to check out her posts!! We look forward to all the tasty dishes she will be preparing and sharing with us! So be sure to go "In the Kitchen with Amelia"!

A little about Amelia (in her own words):


Greetings readers, my name is Amelia and I have been married to the most wonderful man for a little over a year, together we are raising my step-son and I'm loving every hectic minute of it. They are my everything and I strive to be the best person I can be for both of them. My step-son loves to be in the kitchen with me, he's the best sous-chef I've ever had! 

From a very early age my family and I were always together in the kitchen cooking, whether it was at Grandma's, Aunt's, or my Mama's kitchen. I remember thinking when I was little that it was so neat how a home baked cookie or cake could make someone who was feeling down, start smiling and feeling better, or how people would ooh and aah at the dinner being set down in front of them it was like magic to me and I knew I wanted to be a part of that reason of making people feel happy. So, that's where it all started: baking cookies with Mama or Grandma, and as I grew older I started to experiment, not all of them good ideas, haha,  but hey live and learn right?!

I've come to a point in my life where I'm starting to think of all the different types of food I've yet to try and I get excited over the literally millions of different combinations. I tend to gravitate towards Italian dish's mostly, but hey, who doesn't love a bowl pasta right?! My favorite thing to do is bake, but I can't say I have a favorite thing to bake, I love any baked goods! My husband likes to tease me and say I'm having an affair with food, because I will, seriously, do a little happy dance when I'm eating something I find to be really great tasting, I'll rock side to side in my chair while saying yummmmmmm, haha! 

Besides cooking and spending time with my family I do enjoy to be outside: any outdoor actives, fishing being a family favorite, swimming, hiking, camping, floating the river, bungee jumping or just something as simple as sitting on the porch drinking coffee in the morning while gossiping on the phone with my Mama! I'm very excited to be apart of this blog and can't wait to get feed back from the readers, together we can make the world a magical place by the food we cook for our families and friends! And remember....a recipe is just a guide-line, make it your own, experiment!!! Bon Appetit!! 

Monday, March 21, 2011

Zarbee's All Natural Children's Cough Syrup Review

Product: Zarbee's All-Natural Children's Cough Syrup
Category: Health and Fitness
Distributed by: Honey Naturals LLC
Price: $7.99

My children had a great winter, hardly getting anything but a runny nose! I thought we had made it into the clear with the warmer weather coming soon, but low and behold, right before the onset of Spring, both of my kiddos come down with the cough. It started as soon as I woke them up for school and I would have thought it was their way to try to get out of going to school, but my son's coughing nearly had him choking as it was so continuous.  I thought about keeping them home, but then I remembered the cough syrup that I had been waiting to review called Zarbee's.  Zarbee's is an all natural cough syrup made by a pediatrician named Zak Zarbock who wanted to offer his young patients cough relief medicine that wasn't laden with drugs or alcohol. That is when he developed his natural remedy using antioxidant-rich dark honeys, Vitamin C and Zinc. 

My daughter is the worst when it comes to taking medicine and if it tastes bad, she'll spit it out (even though she is almost 12), so I gave her a dose first. I didn't want her brother influencing her idea of the taste. The sample that I received for review had a natural grape flavor. She did that little "poke test" first, sticking her tongue just barely on the spoon and pulling it back. Her eyes lit up... "more", she said, so I gave her the full teaspoon dose. She didn't spit it out!! When I asked her how it tasted, her response was "good". No drink afterwards either! Wow...that impressed me! Next was my son's turn and he didn't hesitate taking the full teaspoon dose. "Not bad" he said. Mary Poppins would have been proud! He was headed out the door to go to school, so I had to remind him not to go to the school nurse for "medicine" until after lunch as one dose is good for four hours! When they came home from school, I didn't hear one cough from either of them! I didn't have to repeat the dose at all. 

I was quite impressed with Zarbee's! Not only was it 100% natural but it is naturally gluten, dye and preservative free and contains no drugs or alcohol and it WORKS! It is safe and effective for children 12 months and older. With so many recalls of medicines on the market, I felt good giving my children an all natural product that did not contain the risks as other over-the-counter medications. I am a convert and won't be purchasing anymore alcohol based cough syrup for my children! 

Ingredients: Proprietary blend of buckwheat and other dark honeys, water, natural flavors, Vitamin C, malic acid, zinc gluconate and tartaric acid.

Where to Connect:
Zarbee's on Facebook
Zarbee's on Twitter
Zarbee's Blog

Where to Purchase: Zarbee's website









Thursday, March 10, 2011

Glee Gum: Make Your Own Gummies Kit Review

Product: Make Your Own Gummies Kit from Glee Gum
Produced by: Verve, Inc.
Category: Cooking 
Price: Approximately $13.00 (varies with retail outlet)

Need something to keep the kids busy on a rainy day? I've got just the thing!! My two kids had a blast with the Glee Gum "Make Your Own Gummies Kit", where they chose to make cute little gummy bears!! 


Glee Gum has been in business since 1992 when the founders of Verve visited a chicle-producing community in Northern Guatemala. It is here that they learned how chewing gum was made and decided at that point to help the economically depressed community by purchasing their main product- chicle (Chicle is the sap from the Sapodilla (pronounced "Sap-oh-dee-yah") tree, which grows in the rainforests of Central America. Chicle was the original basis for all chewing gum, until synthetic gum bases were developed...excerpt from website). Since then, Verve has been producing Glee Gum and the "Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit" so that others can have an educational and environmental experience while having fun making their own Glee Gum. Not only is it fun, but it also provides a sustainable income to those in Northern Guatemala!

The product line soon expanded to include other kits, such as the "Make Your Own Chocolate Kit" and the "Make Your Own Gummies Kit".  When our gummy kit arrived in the mail, the kids were super excited! They could not wait to try it out!! We quickly learned that there was a little bit of process involved in making the gum, and we soon embarked on a chemistry experiment of sorts! It's all relatively simple. The ingredients come individually packed and labeled, so no messing up. Simply follow the included directions and in no time at all, you've become a master chemist...well, in a round about sort of way! 

Inside the kit is a "secret ingredient".....seaweed! The seaweed stalk contains special ingredients that make the gummies stick together (agar and carrageenan)! After a brief soaking of the seaweed stalk and a little mixing and heating in the microwave, the concoction is ready to pour into the molds! My kids found little erasers to use for their mold. The kit contains a mold base powder that you simply spread out on a plate or large pan. We found that it was a little difficult for my kids to indent the powder with the mold without messing up the one they previously made, so we put the powder into a larger pan and added a bit of cornstarch to the powder to accommodate the depth of the pan. This made it a little easier for them to make their molds! Once the mold is ready, simply drop the mixture onto the indentions and the gel fills the molded areas. Then, place in the fridge to let settle!  The kit also contains sour candy coating. All I can say is ....woah! This stuff is S.O.U.R. We put it in a plastic bag and the kids shook them until their little gummy bears were coated!! 

Click to enlarge
The last step is best!! Eating time! These gummies had such great flavor! My kids loved them and it was hard for mom to sneak a few for herself!!! 

I highly recommend these to anyone that has kids and wants an educational experience that is fun to boot! Word of caution--do not leave the gummies in the bag with the sour candy coating and then put in a hot backpack. They do tend to melt!! Store your finished gummies in a cool place!! 

How to Connect: 
Glee Gum Blog
Glee Gum on Facebook
Glee Gum on Twitter

Where to Purchase:  Store Locator







Winner's Circle- Check inside to see if you are a winner!


Cinch! Book Winner:  Nancy D! 

Nordic Omega 3 Gummies Winner: Susan V!

Cool Off Towelettes Winner!! Amanda S!!!

Congratulations Winners!!!! Come back soon for more great reviews and giveaways, and once it warms up.....more uniquities!!!


Sunday, February 27, 2011

Get Energy! by Denise Austin Review and Giveaway

Product: Get Energy!
Author: Denise Austin
Category: Health and Fitness
Price: $16.99

"With busy schedules, demanding careers, and little time, many of us battle just to stay awake. But energy is something that is in our control, even when time is short. Now fifty years young, fitness guru Denise Austin shows you how to super-charge your life using her innovative lifestyle plan. Eating the right foods at the right time of day, harnessing the power of stretching and breathing to feed your body with energy-enhancing oxygen, and participating in mini workouts all help to increase energy even on your busiest days." --excerpt taken from back cover. 

When thinking about gaining energy, most of us probably think in terms of physical energy. Denise Austin address how to gain physical energy, as well as mental energy and emotional energy, in her new book, Get Energy! The book is divided into three sections:

Part one: Energy 101 
Part Two: Energy Prescriptions
Part Three: High-Energy Living

In part one, there is a checklist to help you determine what is zapping your energy. You simply check the statements that apply to you. There are five different sections that cover lifestyle habits, state of mind relationships job and personal time and sense of purpose. For an example: Section A, I checked the following:
  • I skip breakfast most of the time, or have only coffee before noon. 
  • I typically eat only one large meal a day, usually dinner.
  • I cut back on sleep at night to do housework or meet other personal or job-related obligations
  • and so forth...
At the end, you simply tally your check marks in each section to see what part of your life is causing you the most energy drain. 

In section two, Denise shows some simple stretching that can help you to start your day. Don't worry, these are simple exercises that are meant to get your blood flowing. She emphasizes proper posture, and explains how your diet affects your energy level, as well as the importance of a good night's sleep (my main problem being a chronic night owl).  My favorite chapter in this section is Chapter 5: Change Your Outlook, Recharge Your Life. In this chapter, Denise encourages you to laugh!!! She talks about the power of positive thinking  and how helping others can give emotional energy!  She gives some tips for an "attitude makeover" and plenty of ideas on how to reduce the stressors in your life. She has great insight and when reading this with an open-mind, it is easy to see areas in your life that you can change so that you are not overloading yourself with stress. She gives a formula for a balanced life:

B - Be flexible
A - Accept a less-than-tidy house
L - Learn to manage your time
A - Ask for help
N - NO! (just say it, it's okay)
C - carve out family and "me" time
E - Enjoy life!

In part three, you develop a personal energy plan worksheet. It's purpose is to help you to consider your habits, schedule and gives you the tools to devise a 14 day pep plan. It includes many checklists and words of wisdom to help you through your day with more energy, including a 20 minute workout illustrated with photos of proper technique.

I would not read this book as an exercise book, but more as a tool toward developing an understanding about how you can reduce the stress in your life and make your life easier so that you are more physically, mentally and emotionally able to handle the stressors of life. It is a great little self-help book and you will find that once you start reading it, it is hard to put down. Not all the information will be new to you. Some of it will be common sense, but some of the ideas presented will allow you to think outside the box a little. I would think of it as a feel-good book, because by the time you finish it, it leaves you motivated to make some changes in your life. 

How to Connect:
Denise Austin on Twitter
Denise Austin on Facebook

For iPhone users, download the free iPhone application 

Where to Purchase: Amazon.com

Win it!

One winner will receive a copy of this book for their very own!! Open to U.S. and Canadian Residents aged 18 years or older.  No P.O. Boxes. Winners are subject to the one copy per household rule, meaning if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will only receive one copy of the book in the mail.  This is per sponsor's request.

Giveaway ends on March 10, 2011, Midnight Central Time.






Jane Fonda's WORKOUT review

Product: Jane Fonda's Workout
Category: Health & Fitness
Price: $9.99-$14.99

Ready for a workout? Want to shed some pound and get in shape? Not a problem with the Jane Fonda Workout series!

30 years after the original launch of Jane Fonda's bestselling fitness book and award-winning workout video, Jane Fonda has teamed up with GoFit to relaunch Jane Fonda's WORKOUT.  Each workout is led by a new generation of expert trainers handpicked by Jane Fonda herself.


"I originally created WORKOUT thirty years ago, and I am excited to bring it to the next generation. What I started then, can now be continued by the best of today's rising fitness stars. My hope is that through these new faces, handpicked by me for their individuality and unique styles, I can continue to make the pursuit of fitness relevant for years to come" --Jane Fonda

Let me stress up front that I am totally out-of-shape. It was no wonder that when I first started these workouts that the warm-up was near all I could make it through without being completely out of air. I started with the DVD  that I felt would be more my pace--Daily Yoga.

Daily Yoga is led by Tara Stiles, and supplies approximately 60 minutes of invigorating yoga into your daily life. It allows you to learn how to do authentic yoga stretches and reaches that will improve your balance, flexibility, strength and help to reduce your stress.

Even though Tara makes yoga accessible to everyone, it is still quite a challenge if you haven't ever done yoga and I can promise you that you will work muscles that you didn't even know you had. The pace is good and Tara explains thoroughly how to do the moves. However, as the workout continues, the pace gets faster and the moves a little more difficult. Even under Tara's guiding voice, it often became difficult to keep up! I have done a little bit of yoga, but not enough to feel comfortable with some of the poses, but it does get easier with repetition. If it gets too hard, just tone it down to a level that you feel comfortable. Surprisingly, after a few weeks of doing this one, I looked forward to it!

The next video in the series is Sculpt + Tone. It is led by Karena Dawn and Katrina Hodgson. It is a little over 45 minutes long, but is very challenging! It is described as a "high energy, cardio and strength training routine, guaranteed to scorch thigh, bums, waistlines and upper bodies! Super challenging, and so much fun!"

Trust that guarantee! It's definitely a workout that will make you sweat! When I first started this I thought I was going to D.I.E. Karena and Katrina are fit and they make the moves look easy, but they kicked my butt. The routines are varied and include weights and circuit training that you will most likely have already done as some point in your life. They aren't difficult moves, but they are repetitive which really gives your body a great workout! Like the other workout, just do as many as you can and when it becomes too difficult, simply tone it down to the level you are comfortable.

The last video I was sent to review was the Ultra Bootcamp led by Jeanette Jenkins. This workout is over an hour long, but if I am being honest, I haven't made it through to the end. It's a riveting and high energy cardio workout. It leaves no muscle un-worked and will certainly get your heart pumping. It's full of stretches and kicks and at a fast pace that will help you to get that aerobic exercise needed to help you lose those extra pounds!

The GoFit line includes a multitude of Jane Fonda products from the WORKOUT dvds to stretch bands, sliders, stability balls, hoops and mats.


Where to Purchase: GoFit.com, and Target




















Saturday, February 26, 2011

PhitGrips Review and Giveaway

Product: PhitGrips
Category: Health and Fitness
Price: $9.99 per pair

"PhitGrip was invented by a gymaholic germaphobe. Sick and tired of getting sick (and then tired) from frequent gym visits our plucky entrepreneur decided to do something about it."  --excerpt from PhitGrips website.

This semester at college, I had to fulfill my physical education credits. One of the classes I am taking is more of a sit down kind of class that teaches health and nutrition, but the other is a basic physical fitness course where I actually have access to a gym with treadmills, weights and other gym equipment. This was the perfect opportunity for me to try PhitGrips, which are designed to create a barrier between you and the millions of germs commonly found on gym weights and workout equipment.

PhitGrips are made with liquefied rubber that has been injected with oxygen, which creates a very light and cushioned feel. The logo printed on the PhitGrips is infused with an antimicrobial agent that helps inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria. To use, simply rub your hands together occasionally to spread the microbial agent over the entire surface of the palm. When the logo wears off, it's time for new PhitGrips.

Germs are everywhere and they are mostly spread by contact and are often left behind on objects that people share with other people. This means the risk of contaminating yourself is high, especially in humid gyms and sweaty palms.

"In Good Morning America's tests, microbiologist Dr. Philip Teirno found the most germs are on equipment used by "multiple people in quick sequence, such as dumbbells". Germs found in the doctor's tests included staph aureus, klebsiella, enterobacter and E. coli, which can cause various ailments."


PhitGrips fit snuggly around dumbbell bars, handrails and other type workout equipment. When I first go to the gym, I start my warm-up by walking on the treadmill, and these grips fit nicely around the hand grips, although the heart rate could not be read when using the PhitGrips (not a big deal to me as I stop and take it manually throughout my workout anyhow). I also used them when lifting weights and using other circuit type exercise equipment. They go off and on very quickly, as one side is open, which allows you to simply slap them on and go. With some of the circuit equipment, the grips were wider than the equipment bars, but it didn't seem to matter as my hands held them in place nicely. I am not a power lifter, but even with the light use, I loved how the PhitGrips prevented my hands from callouses from the dumbbells. No need for gloves! I like that they are lightweight and flexible, so I could easily slip them into my pockets until needed.

PhitGrips are just one tool to utilize in the gym to reduce the risk of contracting harmful bacteria. Other ways of reducing your risks is to bring workout clothes to change into and a special pair of shoes specifically for gym wear. Clean these off and disinfect before packing into your gym bag to take home. Shoes from the street will bring in whatever germs you have picked up wherever you have been in them. Bring your own towels. A hand towel is perfect for wiping sweat from your body. Use footwear in the shower and always bring your own hand sanitizer for places where you can't use your PhitGrips.

How to Connect: 
PhitGrips on Facebook
PhitGrips on Twitter

Where to Purchase: PhitGrips website





Win it!

One winner will win a pair of PhitGrips for their own! Simply fill the form out below to be entered! Giveaway open to United States residents aged 18 years or older. Void where prohibited by law. Winner will be selected using random.org and will have five business days to respond to winning email before win will be forfeited and a new winner chosen. For complete rules and regulations, disclaimer and disclosure, please visit the "legal" page.



Prize: One pair of PhitGrips
Contest ends: March 15, 2011, Midnight central standard time










Friday, February 11, 2011

Ortholite Fusion Insoles Review

Product: Ortholite Fusion Insoles
Category: Health and Fitness
Price: $19.99

Sometimes, slipping on a new pair of shoes is like slipping your feet into a portable cloud!! Ever get that feeling?! It's usually because a new shoe gives your foot a new insole to rest upon, creating an immediate improvement over your old shoes! Sure, there are after-market insoles that you can put in your shoes, but not all insoles are the same. Not all insoles offer you moisture management, anti-microbial agents, long term cushioning or breath-ability, but the new Ortholite Fushion insoles do just that and so much more!  I call them new, but these insoles have been on the market for some time, hiding out in some of your favorite brand shoes such as Reebok, Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Timberland, Fila, Prada, Puma and many more. It is simply the first time that these insoles have been available to the general public as a separate entity from your favorite shoe! Now you can make any brand of shoe as comfortable as some of the more popular brands seen on the market!!

My greatest downfall with shoes is that I hate to wear socks. I know...how disgusting right? I agree with you! Trust me, no one wants to be near me when I take my shoes off in the summer time. Yes, it's that bad. I hate throwing away my shoes simply because they get that funky odor to them, so  I try to mask it with foot powders. Yep, you guessed it...just makes it smell like smelly feet and powder. I decided to try the Ortho Lite Fushion insoles in one of my most comfortable walking shoes. I tore out that old stinky insole and measured it against the OrthoLite insole. I had ordered a size 8 for myself, and I didn't even have to trim at all. Perfect fit. I was a bit hesitant about wearing the insoles. I've used insoles in the past that have done nothing but make my feet sweat even more, but the OrthoLite insoles use a moisture managment system that helps to keep moisture away from the foot, due to the open cell structure design. Any moisture dries up fast as the airflow through the open cell network is much greater than any insoles I've used in the past. Best of all, even if the Ortholite did cause some sweating, all I have to do is take them out, toss them in the wash, and viola, good as new!! Plus, the EPA/FDA approved anti-microbial formulation helps to fight fungus, bacteria and odor!

My husband ordered a pair for himself as well. He uses big heavy work boots all day long, and his feet are often wet. His old insoles had to be rolled out as they had gotten so thin, it was hard to grab hold. He loves his Ortholite insoles. Not only do they provide him the extra cushioning, but the Ortholite insoles have a spring-back technology that helps them to retain over 95% of their thickness over time, meaning they won't flatten out like his old insoles did!

Overall, we were both very pleased with the Ortholite Fushion Insoles and I will be purchasing several of these to replace the insoles in my daughter's shoes. She is pigeon-toed, like her mother, so she wears down her insoles quickly on one side. My hope is that these will help to keep her shoe from forming so much to the inward turn of her foot, and provide her more support until she is able to train her feet to the proper position. She wears the same size shoe as me, so I feel confident that this will at least make her shoes fit more comfortable.

Important Facts: These insoles are not made to go over existing insoles, but are instead made to replace existing insoles, so be certain that you can remove the insoles for the shoes you intend to use the Ortholite insoles in.

Giving Back: I love companies that give back to the community. For every pair of Fushion Insoles purchased, Ortholite will donate $1 to the Level Field Fund, a grant-giving program that strives to bridge gaps in funding to uniquely talented atheletes.

Where to Buy: Amazon.com



Discount: Save $5.00 on a pair of Fusion insoles when you order from Amazon.com. Simply use the code
"INSOLES$5"




Review Lineup- Stay tuned for these great products!

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The Pocket Referee- A Simple Way to End Sibling Rivalry Review

Product: The Pocket Referee
Produced by: Vraney, Inc.
Category: Children, Parents
Price: $12.95-$15.95

If you have two or more children, then you might understand some of the petty arguments kids insist on having with one another. Let's see, for example, this week's arguments between my two rascals have included:
  1. Which movies to watch on Roku
  2. Whose turn it is to play the Playstation (because they fight to much to play together)
  3. An argument about who had the most patience 
  4. Fight over sitting position in the living room ("I was there first")
  5. Who gets to sled first
  6. If the food on their plate was equal
  7. The "it's not fair" fight over any and everything
  8. Whether or not their cousin was playing in his room or her room
  9. If they were going to have school or not because of the snow (which they did not)
  10. Whose turn it was to clean their bathroom
I could go on and on, but basically, my two fight from the moment they wake up until they go to bed. They do play together, and sometimes when its too quiet, I have to go investigate to make sure one hasn't tied and gagged the other (okay, I doubt this would happen, but not 100% sure). They can't even make it up the hill from the school bus without fighting. 

But, it's just their way. They have this unique relationship and when one of them is gone to the grandparents for the night, the other doesn't know what to do with themselves. Arguing is just one of their ways of communicating and no matter what I do, they continue. Therefore, when I heard about The Pocket Referee, I was genuinely excited!


The Pocket Referee was the mastermind of George Vraney, who used the concept of The Pocket Referee to settle disputes between his two daughters, Jennifer and Amy. The object of the coin is to allow children the tool necessary to settle their own disputes and without as much parental involvement. I know, in our household, my settling their disputes just makes mom the bad guy. With The Pocket Referee, this is not the case. The Pocket Referee is a two sided coin. One side has a cute referee and says "Get the Choice - Pass the Coin" and the opposite side has a neat treasure chest and says "Pass the Choice - Keep the Coin".

When the coin first arrived, we opened the package and the kids were ultra excited, but after I told them the intention of the coin, they both grumbled. I had the kids pick "heads" or "tails" and then flipped the coin. When the girl ended up with the coin, the boy had a meltdown and we ended up having to do the "two-out-of-three" to appease his "it's not fair" mentality. I explained to them how it would work: At the first dispute, the holder of the coin (in this case, the girl) could decide to keep the coin and let the other child (the boy) have his way, or the holder of the coin could choose to pass the coin and have her way now, but relinquishing her control of the coin. 

The next morning the children started arguing over which tv show to watch on the living room tv (which makes no sense to me as they both have their own tv's in their room) and so I immediately asked, "Who has the Referee?" My daughter was still in control of it, so she was able to decide if she would keep the coin and let him watch the show he wanted to watch or pass the coin and watch what she wanted to watch. She chose to keep the coin. Every argument they had, she decided to keep the coin. All through day one. All through day two. All through day three. On day four, my son had enough and I heard the familiar "that's not fair, she has had the coin for three days and she won't EVER give it to me". At this point, I thought he might be right, and so I explained to him, that the longer she kept it, the more he would get his way. This made him happy for a few more days, until he learned that getting his way was boring. 

By the second week, the quiet around the house ended. My son figured out that the only way he was ever going to get the coin was to create more arguments. This was a horribly long day for me, as everything he did was about getting that coin. Now, he just wanted it. Not because he wanted his way, but because his sister had it and he wanted it. Now the coin BECAME the argument. It was then, that I had to amend the rules. Each morning, the coin would be traded off. This seemed to work. The boy felt the power of the coin in his hand for the first time! There was no stopping him now! "I've got the coin, so I can make the decision", he would tell his sister. She would just roll her eyes. "Fine, then I'm not playing that coin game anymore", she would tell him. But of course, she would. 

I enjoyed The Pocket Referee as it allowed me to not be plagued with the constant "tattle-tail syndrome" that kids develop. Instead, they learned that they could, instead, settle their own arguments. I even seen them making compromise without passing or mention of the coin. Progress. 

The Pocket Referee is a great tool to teach children the importance of comprise. Is it going to end every argument or dispute?No.  But what it is going to do, is allow the parent to remove him or herself from the middle. This made it work for me!! Even now, when they forget about the coin or forget whose turn it is to make the decision, I have the power of the coin on my side. I can mention "Who has The Pocket Referee?" at any given time, and they will bring it to me and I will pass someone the control. I don't have to make the decision, but put it back into their hands. That's worth it to me!

Where to Buy: The Pocket Referee website, Amazon.com



Special: All orders made from The Pocket Referee website, from now until the end of February, will come gift wrapped and with complimentary chocolate. Perfect for Valentine's Day gift giving!

How to Connect: 
The Pocket Referee on Twitter
The Pocket Referee on Facebook



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