Shelby, Author at MomStart

Making Summer Memories With AirFort

August 9, 2019 by Shelby Leave a Comment

Sample provided.

AIR FORT – If you need a break from messy furniture forts, we’ve got your answer! The AIR FORT is the first kid’s fort to hit the market that inflates in seconds with the switch of an ordinary household fan. The fort blows up in seconds and is child safety protected. AirFort measures 77in wide and 50 in tall. There is no floor for an easy entrance and exit with a viewing window to see out of. It is easy to take down and fits in a compact bag for easy travel.

One night before bed, while my five year old brushed his teeth, I quickly set up the AirFort to surprise him. By the time he came back in to say goodnight, there it was in all its glory.

Both surprised and excited, he couldn’t believe such a thing existed and that I managed to make it appear out of thin air. Before I knew it he was inside with his blanket and books; he just HAD to have his bedtime stories in his awesome new fort. Thankfully the lightweight fabric allowed plenty of the overhead light to shine through for reading and the spacious interior provided lots of room for snuggles with dad. Typically forts get hot and stuffy, but my husband noted how fresh and cool it stayed thanks to the interior airflow.

Since that awestruck night, my son has used it numerous times for a myriad of different purposes: imaginative play, quiet space, art projects, movie “theater,” and all kinds of creative activities. Most recently he set it up and invited us in to play board games. It took less time to put together than it would have to clean the table off in order to make room for the game!
Besides the simple clean up, we love that we all fit inside. When I’m not able to play along, the mesh windows conveniently allow for him to stay supervised.

Overall we’re huge “fans” of this ingenious invention. What an improvement from draping messy sheets all over the living room furniture or setting up complicated tents with posts just for temporary play. This will get plenty of use for years to come!

Airfort features:

· -5 color options

· -No floor for an easy entrance and exit

· -Viewing window for kids to see in and out

· -A light polyester fabric that is both breathable and durable

· -A mesh divider to prevent access to fan *child safety approved*

· -Velcro stickers to secure AirFort to fan

AirFort retails for $49.95 – get yours today on AirFort.com or Amazon!

Buddyphones WAVE: Your Child’s Best Buddy

April 26, 2019 by Shelby Leave a Comment

Sample provided.

The minute I read about BuddyPhones WAVE, I knew it would be a lifesaver with my boys. We do noise really well in our house, and tend to drive each other crazy with it. Even the baby matches the pitch and volume of whatever sound his brothers happen to be making at any given moment so we basically have a human parrot—sometimes adorable, sometimes not so much. With three loud and busy boys I’m always looking for something to either grab their attention or distract and calm them. Well friends, these great headphones do both!

Music, stories, movies, educational games, podcasts—you name it. I’ve especially appreciated that my little wiggle-machines are not bound by a cord (though they do have a plug-in option as well); free to dance, play with Legos, sit buckled in their car seat or shopping cart. The secure fit manages to stay put without causing discomfort like many headphones do. The sturdy, low-profile design is great while out and about, and the ability to fold and store them in the convenient travel bag is handy for throwing them into the diaper bag or center console of the car. It’s nice to not worry about hearing-damage with the volume settings designed for any age. They’re even waterproof, so I’ve got no qualms about sending my boys outside with them on, even in rainy Portland.

Besides the visual appeal (my 5 year old adored the color and cool art), they’re extremely easy to use. I’m one of those Millennials who never quite caught on to the technology wave so I can get overwhelmed when having to figure out new electronics. Unlike my husband, I just don’t have common-sense with gadgets and HATE reading user manuals just to use a new device that’s supposed to add convenience and simplicity to my life! I made an audible sigh of relief when I opened the box to find a single folded piece of paper with ALL necessary info. How complicated can it get when you only have to figure out three buttons! Considering what I just told you about myself, I felt comfortable and well informed on the item within five minutes of opening it. That says a lot. Honestly, I give credit to the simple diagrams!

It just so happened that my kindergartner was having a particularly challenging time transitioning home from school when I had my first opportunity to test them. He was temperamental and needing space from the two year old. Unfortunately I needed to cook dinner and work with the baby, so providing that space while he could still be near me was difficult. I popped the headphones on him, handed him his bucket of Legos, and quickly got his favorite music going on my phone, paired via Bluetooth. As the noisy boys were drowned out, He calmed immediately and slipped into a content, focused state of building colorful creations. Well that was just the beginning of discovering what magical, boy-taming powers these headphones have!

Beyond the product itself, BuddyPhones really impressed me as a company with the excellent customer service they provided when our first pair had an issue. They replaced the product promptly and the second set has worked great. I’ve even found my husband with them on from time to time, as the adjustable sizing allows him to get some use out of them. We’re all a little saner thanks to the Buddyphones Wave, especially now that the toddler’s “wheels on the bus” song is stuck on repeat through headphones rather than through the speakers in our house.

Thanks, BuddyPhones!

Evenflo Gold Everystage Sets a New Standard and Outshines the Competition

April 22, 2019 by Shelby Leave a Comment

Riding in the Evenflo Gold Everystage Car Seat

Sample provided.

We’ve been foster parents for almost three years, and have had 20 kids in and out of our home (and van!) during that time. Needless to say, we’re pretty well versed in car seats, and our car seats have been very well used. When we took the Evenflo Gold Everystage out of the box, we were stunned—no exaggeration. Aside from its newness, and not being encrusted in spit-up and apple sauce, the difference in quality was immediately apparent. It’s not too heavy, but solid and well-built. It may not look like new for long, but we have no doubt it will serve us well for the long haul.

Evenflo Gold SensorSafe EveryStage™ Smart All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

As we got to know the car-seat, we kept finding new and exciting features we never knew we needed, and were also pleased to find those that had been conspicuously missing from our other options. We were especially impressed with the SensorSafe technology. It offers a serious confidence boost through the convenience of an app that can alert you if your child unbuckles, if the temperature in the car gets too high, or if you walk away from the car with your child still buckled.

Our first impression was that it was a very big seat, but once we had it installed, it hardly took up any more room than our others. With all the different inserts and adjustment options, it can comfortably and conveniently fit any of our three boys, ranging from 14 months to 5 and a half years. The installation was easy as well. No wrestling with towels or blankets to try to get the seat level. Simply anchor and ratchet down the base then glide the seat to the appropriate angle. This feature alone spared us from the painstaking task of trying to get the latch belt or seatbelt tight enough while installing. So quick!

From 14 months…

…to to 5 and a half years!

Our one-year old can easily reach his sippy or a binky from the generous cup-holders. Buckling is a breeze, with smooth strap adjustments and quick release buckles. I can unbuckle and remove him with one hand which doesn’t seem necessary unless you’re the kind of parent (like myself) that aims for as few trips as possible between the car and the house while unloading. Plus, it comes with the added confidence of SensorSafe technology; a brilliant way to maximize safety through the convenience of an app on your phone to help you.

Aside from that combination of comfort and safety while awake, we’ve never had a seat that kept our boys so well situated for sleeping. The adjustable headrest keeps them ideally positioned for napping while in the car, keeping their heads upright and well aligned with the side impact cushions. The only downside we’ve found so far is that we have to live with the fact that one of our children will be riding in much more comfort and safety than our other two. It’s definitely making us consider upgrading our other seats as well.

Make Bath Time Fun, Educational, and Tidy with the Yookidoo Flow ‘N’ Fill Spout

June 14, 2016 by Shelby Leave a Comment

Sample provided.

Right off the bat, I knew this toy would be a hit with my 2 year old. What I didn’t realized was how much I was going to love it myself! Lucky for us, we got the chance to try it out just in time for International Bath Day on June 14th!

My son has always enjoyed bath time and it’s been a great way for him to explore and play while getting clean, but ever since he’s been old enough to move around freely in the tub, he constantly tries to get things he shouldn’t have (soap, shampoo, and of course constant attempt to turn on the faucet). He’s a busy guy and it got to the point where he either wanted a consistent trickle of water out of the faucet for entertainment, or more and more toys. Inevitably every bath toy ended up in the tub, and we’d have a million little pieces to put away afterward. NOT ANY MORE!

The Yookidoo Flow ‘N’ Fill Spout is now the ONLY toy during bath time and my son wouldn’t have it any other way. It really works! He doesn’t bother messing with the faucet anymore, because he has his very own that he can turn on and off as he pleases, and without wasting any water. It’s easy to use, yet has plenty of options that hold his interest. He loves to experiment with the stacking, draining and pouring features of the cups. He even lays still and allows me to wash his hair under the little stream of water—tear free and hands free!

I had no idea how multifaceted this toy would be. It’s appealing with bright colors and a cute design, promotes fine motor skills and sensory development, and keeps the tub free from clutter! The red cup has a spinning propeller that’s activated by the water channeling through it, the green cup drains like a shower head with several little holes at the bottom, and the blue cup has an orange piece that fits inside with a hole in the middle; when you fill the hole with water the piece pops up with a cute smiley face. He played with this particular piece over and over. Every time the little face appeared, he would say, “peekaboo!” The attached arm that supports and stores the cups swivels directly under the spout, allowing younger children to be entertained without having to fill the cups themselves.

With this toy, my son wants to stay in the tub for a long time. He’s continually intrigued, and it’s been really fun to watch him gain a better understanding of cause and effect as a result. I’m encouraged to see his attention focused on one thing for a sustained amount of time—because let’s face it—he tends to hop from toy to toy like they’re hot potatoes.

If you want a fun and unique (yet useful) gift that’s suitable for any baby or toddler, then look no further—the Yookidoo Flow ‘N’ Fill Spout is sure to be a hit! Get it today on Amazon.

Sleep Easy With The Nook Pebble Body Pillow

May 22, 2016 by Shelby Leave a Comment

Nook kindly provided a luxury body pillow for me to review, and the minute it arrived an epic family snuggle commenced.

As I tore into the package containing my Nook Pebble Body Pillow, my husband lurked, waiting for his chance to try it out. I unzipped the bag and at first grasp (and gasp..it was shockingly soft) my husband reached for “my precious.” Me unwilling to let go, fell with him to the living room floor. We both laid there oohing and aahing over the amazing quality and texture. The commotion caught our son’s attention and he came running to see what the fuss was about. Immediately, he shoved his way in. Before we knew it, we were marooned to the outer edges and the two year old sprawled victoriously across the entire thing. We were cracking up as the “king of the pillow” lay completely limp with his eyes closed as though he’d been sleeping there for hours. As ridiculous as it sounds…and probably looked…I am not ashamed. This pillow is sensational!

In attempts to prove that I’m not crazy, my mother came over the next day for a quick visit, and I just HAD to show off the new pillow. Yes, it was probably a weird thing to do, but knowing she shares a mutual love for crazy comfy bedding, I just wanted to see her reaction. Oh my goodness, one touch and her jaw dropped to the floor as she snatched that sucker right out of my arms. She stood there bear hugging it with her eyes tightly shut, as though she had been whisked off to a spa getaway. After a drawn-out pause, I started to chuckle which snapped her out of her reverie; upon opening her eyes she lifted the pillow toward me and said, “Oh, hi, have you met my boyfriend?” We both started laughing out loud and I told her that it was time to end the relationship because I was taking “him” back!

I would like to say that I’ve managed to keep it all to myself, but my husband was not so quick to give up. We compromised by laying the body pillow across the top of the bed, and now sleep on it rather than the others. It works beautifully. It has plenty of body to it, and the softness combined with the memory foam pellets inside make it perfect for always feeling full and fresh (and despite us moving around in the night, it doesn’t have to be repositioned). It requires zero plumping or fluffing and maintains a really crisp and clean scent. The cover is simple to wash, and we now only have ONE pillow to worry about!

Before I get off my soapbox, I would just like to say that there’s scarcely anything in my house that’s cuddlier, more snuggly, or as “yummy” as this darn pillow. Nook has mastered the art of making bedtime even more glorious than before—a task I thought impossible!

Festivals and Fun With The New Evenflo Sip & Seek Sippy Cup #EvenfloFeeding #LetLoveFlo

April 19, 2016 by Shelby 3 Comments

Gift card & product provided.

Anyone with youngsters know just how vital sippy cups are at home and on the go; they just plain make sense…that is if you want to avoid sticky and saturated clothing, furniture, car-seats, and strollers. This is why I was so excited to try out a variety of new products from Evenflo, featuring an innovative sippy that brings a whole new spin to the sipping and toddling world! The new Sip & Seek cup is so much more than a mere vessel for hydration, it’s colorful, innovative, and oh so entertaining! From the second my son saw it, he was enthralled. Along with receiving the cups, Evenflo provided the opportunity to take a big family outing in which to try out the fun, featured cup! Before we left on our adventure, I lined up the new cup with our previously owned cups, so that my little guy could choose the one he wanted. This was his introduction to the Sip & Seek, and those poor generic cups didn’t stand a chance in the eyes of this two year old! The second he saw it he ran to the counter and jumped up and down for me to get it down for him. So began an entire day of excitement toward this revolutionary sippy.

White knuckles gripped the cup as we got him settled into the car and began our journey to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon. Noticing his favor toward the sippy, we didn’t even bother packing any extra toys to help pass time in the car. His giggles in the seat behind us expressed the joy in his discovery that it wasn’t just a really cool looking cup, but indeed an interactive toy! As he spun the outer cover (that actually doubles as an insulator, keeping the beverage cool) he noticed the aliens and spaceships appearing as if out of nowhere. The cute little faces on the silly creatures repeatedly surprised him as he carefully twisted and anticipated their appearance. Before he knew it, our hour long journey was over and we were ready to explore the fun and bright colors of the tulips, an outing inspired by the vibrant and multi-dimensional images on his new sippy!

Feeling pride for his new cup-toy, he of course opted for proudly carrying it along, displaying it to those around him. After more than an hour of walking beautiful tulip rows, checking out a giant hot air balloon, hay rides, and discovering the wonders of antique steam engine tractors, he finally allowed me to hold the beloved cup in order to participate in the carnival!

Pony rides, bounce houses and even a harnessed trampoline ride could not keep him from this cup, though. While wrapping up the last of the rides he requested to once again hold and drink from his “special” sippy. My husband and I noted how hydrated he must have been because of all the water he was drinking while playing with it; a nice alternative to constant attempts of getting him to drink something besides juice! We wrapped up our amazing day with locally made hotdogs and leisurely play time in a sand box.

While getting ready to head back home, he asked if he could again play with the cup while in the car. We had no qualms, and within ten minutes he was fast asleep…apparently it also replaces security blankets?

With so many great features in this cup, I made a list of our favorites:

-Practical & Durable
-Fits easily in cup holders
-Bright, eye catching colors
-Fun interactive pictures
-Easily disassembles
-Very easy to clean (+ dishwasher safe!)
-Adjustable flow = they will never grow out of it!
-Keeps drinks cold
-BPA free
-Doubles as a toy!!!

Besides our lovely experience with the brilliant Sip & Seek, Judah was able to try out two other types of Evenflo sippies; all getting nothing but raves from Toddlerville (aka my house).

What could be more ingenious than a glow in the dark sippy? Do you realize what that means??? No more stumbling around in the dark looking for it in baby’s room…or the back of the car! It’s ingenious! This Triple-Flow-Glo cup is all around awesome, and has a myriad of perks…though as you can probably tell, I’m completely focused on its glowing skills! Naturally, we try and keep Judah’s bedroom as dark as possible (in attempts to get the most amount of sleep as possible), and the faint glow makes it simple to find in the dark for a quick sip when he gets a dry throat. This prevents him from waking up completely in a desperate attempt to find his water, and prevents us from having to get out of bed to go get him a glass of water. Aaaaah, sweet sleep!

He first sampled this cup on an outing to the Oregon Zoo, which ended up being a great place to see what it can do. As we entered some of the darker animal exhibits, the cup began to show off. No digging through the diaper bag in an endless attempt to find that ONE thing, or feeling all the nooks and crannies of the stroller to find it. I could tell he still hadn’t lost it (something I’m always paranoid about when he insists of holding it while we stroll) with a quick glance at the glow. Even in daylight, it’s easier to find than other sippy cups because of the florescent color! I will say this though, since my son has discovered this cup’s abilities, I’ve managed to lose HIM, twice…in the closet…which just so happens to be the darkest spot in the house. Oh, he also tried to share it with a giant lizard; luckily a wall of glass prevented that.

If you’re asking yourself, “what will they think of next?!” Then listen to this…a tilted cup that brings the drink to you baby’s mouth for them! Whaaa??? You heard that right! My son was stoked to try the Evenflo Tilty Triple-Flo sippy because it makes drinking a rather effortless task.

Besides the adjustable flow valve (that the other two cups have as well) this cup has a sharp upward slope, allowing the fluid to stay closer to the top. No more sharp neck angles to finish off that drink. It’s also a great starter cup for little ones adjusting from a bottle. Two easy grip handles and a wide base make this cup not only easy to handle, but difficult to tip over. Did I mention, that it’s SUPER simple to drink from? I only wish it was around when Judah was a baby because he had a difficult time transitioning. You may call it lazy, but I call it CONVENIENT! We tried this one out on a train ride, and at the Portland Children’s Museum…and at Chick-Fil-A. Hey, why not?

I’m happy to see affordable sippy cups that offer something different, and stand out above the rest. Well done Evenflo…and thank you for knowing what parents could use in a sippy cup!