parenting Archives

How to Make Memories with Your Kids that Last Forever

April 20, 2020 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.

As moms, for sure, many of you can relate to the fact that nothing brings us more happiness than our kids. They bring incomparable joy, despite the many sleepless nights that we have to endure. Your kids won’t be young forever! Before they grow old and crave for independence, make happy memories with them and make sure that it will last forever. Read on and we’ll share some tips on how to do this.

Store Your Photos Online

In this digital age, printing photos is no longer the norm, although it is still a good practice. A better alternative is to use an online photo book. This way, the photos will be easily accessible online. They are available anytime and anywhere. No need to worry that a fire would destroy them or that time would make the colors fade. Even after several years, online photos will still be full of life, making it a great way to preserve memories with your little ones.

Transform Your Photos into a Puzzle

If you insist on still having the photos printed, a good idea is to print them in the form of a puzzle. This is a creative way to display photos at home. You can also finish the puzzle with your kid, and it will be a good opportunity to bond. Once done, have it framed to protect it from dirt and dust. If you are looking for an easy way to make custom puzzles out of your pictures, make sure to check out Shutterfly.

Travel Together

Making memories with your kids should go beyond photos. It should also include experiences, such as traveling. Explore some of the best places to go with kids. It is not just an opportunity to build happy memories, but it also exposes kids to life outside what they are used to. Have fun in theme parks and water parks. Go museum hopping. Travelling can be expensive, so be creative in finding ways to make it more affordable. For instance, you can travel on a shoulder season. Stay in holiday rentals instead of hotels. Cook your food. Find discounted activities.

Teach Your Kid How to Cook

When it comes to making memories with children, cooking is another good idea. At a young age, teach your kid how to have fun in the kitchen. Start by teaching him or her the basics. Once your kid is old enough, teach a family recipe that has been passed down through generations. This cherished recipe is sure to give your child a life-long memory of the time you spent together having fun cooking.

Make memories with your kids while they are young. You will regret not doing it once they are old. From storing your photos online to traveling as a family, consider our suggestions above to make long-lasting and happy memories.

Is It Time For Us To Start Embracing The Esports Revolution?

February 26, 2020 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.
Last year a 16-year-old from Pennsylvania earned $3 million by winning the solo competition at the Fortnite World Cup. Another 16-year-old from California was given $1.2 million for finishing third, while a 15-year-old from Essex in England scooped $1.1 million by seizing the runner-up prize in the duos event.

Teenagers can now earn life-changing sums by simply playing video games at elite levels. More than 80 gamers have now earned more than $1 million alone through their exploits with a mouse, keyboard or controller, and the majority are teens and young adults. Is it time for more parents to start embracing the esports revolution?

A Cultural Phenomenon

Teenagers now have the perfect riposte when parents demand that they put down the controller and do their homework. You can become an overnight millionaire by excelling at video gamers, putting parents in an awkward position.

However, parents should not fear competitive gaming. Detrimental myths about video games abound, but it is time to debunk them and show parents that their children can benefit – not just financially – by getting involved in esports.

The most popular esports are MOBA games like League of Legends and Dota 2. They are featured prominently on leading industry sites like Unikrn.com, they typically dominate the Twitch rankings, and tournaments like the LoL Worlds and The International generate a tremendous buzz. The International 2019 carried prize money of $34.3 million, making it the richest esports tournament of all time.

These games really encourage STEM learning. The pros typically come from science, technology, engineering and mathematics backgrounds, and esports encourages youngsters to develop these skills. It then celebrates an aptitude for these areas by turning gamers into millionaire superstars with legions of adoring fans.

Other popular esports include CS:GO and Overwatch, which require teamwork, communication, problem solving and other vital skills. These help teenagers thrive in the world of business, even if they do not make it as star gamers.

Schools Back Esports

It is important to remember that video games are not making children isolated or antisocial any more. Most games are online, multiplayers pursuits. They allow friends to join forces and take on opposing teams in thrilling battles, or make new friends across the world and bond over a shared fondness for a particular game.

Vast online communities give people a sense of belonging, while a number of LAN events frequently bring people out of their bedrooms and into the real world.

Schools are also backing the esports revolution. One in five K-12 schools already have an esports program, and 71% are considering it, according to a survey from eCampus News and Extreme Networks in August 2019.

They know that taking part in extracurricular activities keeps students out of trouble, offers a sense of belonging, boosts their academic performance and attendance rate, and helps them contribute positively to the wider school ecosystem.

Traditionally that would come through sports like football, basketball and athletics, but schools can no longer afford to ignore the esports revolution.

How Big Is Competitive Gaming?

You have probably heard talk of the growing popularity of competitive gaming, but just how big is it? The primary research group in this sector is Newzoo, and it estimates that there were 454 million esports viewers in 2019. That is predicted to increase to 645 million by 2022.

The Asia Pacific region accounts for more than half of that figure. Just 12% of viewers are in North America, but the number continues to grow. Newzoo values the esports industry at $1.1 billion, but that does not include the vast sums earned by the publishers of titles like League of Legends and Fortnite, which both made more than $1 billion in 2019.

This is no longer a geeky, niche hobby. It is big business, and brands like Intel, Mastercard, Coca-Cola and Red Bull are piling in. The scene is becoming increasingly flush with cash, and that translates to more jobs, more tournaments, higher levels of professionalism and organization, a slicker viewing experience and more pro gamers.

The Future is Bright

Yet the esports scene is still in its infancy. Its potential for future growth is vast. Many experts believe it will eventually eclipse traditional sports in terms of popularity, economic heft and viewership figures. That might sound fanciful, but recent news items would suggest otherwise.

All manner of traditional sports franchises have been investing heavily in the pro gaming scene. The Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the NBA teams with major esports projects. Leading soccer teams like PSG and Man City are getting involved. NFL team owners regularly invest in esports, along with celebrities, tech entrepreneurs, singers, rappers and actors.

They all recognize the potential of esports. It is a lot more dynamic than traditional sports, as it takes advantage of technological developments to constantly offer an enhanced viewing experience. New games regularly shake up the scene and drive it forwards, whereas traditional sports look static by comparison.

Esports appeal to young people that have grown up with technology, and they will continue to grow at the expense of sports like baseball, golf and so on. Traditional sports teams have realized that it is futile to try to beat them, so they are joining the revolution instead. It is time for parents to get on board too.

PSA: September is National Baby Safety Month

September 13, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Thank you to Evenflo for providing product samples!

The final “Featured Pick” in our Back-To-School Tech Gift Guide is the Evenflo Gold SensorSafe Pivot Xpand™ Smart Modular Travel System. With its innovative SensorSafe Technology, this system is a must-have for making those morning school runs easier and safer. In addition to marking the start of school, September is also National Baby Safety Month, so to help keep “Safety first” during this busy time of year, one of Evenflo’s safety experts is guest posting today to share her expertise. Take it away, Sarah:

September is National Baby Safety Month: By Sarah Haverstick, Safety Advocate and Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor, Evenflo

Attention all parents, September is National Baby Safety Month! That’s right, an entire month dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the importance of keeping infants safe and healthy through their early years. Summer is quickly coming to an end and whether you’re out running errands, shuffling to and from school or going on a road trip, this month is filled with on-the-go moments. With temperatures still at a high, it’s important to understand best practices for keeping children safe when they’re on the road. With this top of mind, we have provided the following car seat safety tips for National Baby Safety Month this September to help keep your little ones safe!

Choose the Right Car Seat and Install Properly:

Approximately 70% of car seats are not installed properly, which can impact their ability to protect children in the event of a crash. Parents should seek out one of the many certified car seat technicians located across the country to assist with any questions or concerns, including car seat selection and installation details for their specific vehicle.

Position the Harness Properly.

When your car seat is installed in a rear-facing position, the harness should be positioned at or below your child’s shoulders. When installed in a forward-facing position, the harness should be positioned at or above your child’s shoulders. Position the car seat’s chest clip at armpit level when clipping your child into their car seat and make sure the harness straps are lying flat and snug on the child’s shoulders before starting your trip.

Proper Clothing.

Don’t dress your child in blanket sleepers or other clothing that would prevent the crotch strap from fitting snugly up against the child.

Utilize Available Technology:

According to NoHeatStroke.org, there have been 38 child hot car deaths so far this year, with a record-breaking 53 hot car fatalities last year. Newly designed car seat technology can help ease the minds of parents when on the road with little ones. For example, embedded into the SensorSafe™ Smart Chest Clip of Evenflo Gold car seats and the accompanying app, SensorSafe Technology gives parents access to important safety insights by providing real-time alerts in their vehicle and on their smart devices when unsafe conditions arise—such as a child being too warm or the child being unbuckled in their car seat. If a child is left in the car and the parent doesn’t respond to the app alert, an emergency contact is notified. If multiple alerts are neglected, all of the emergency contacts set up in the app are sent the location of the vehicle using GPS tracking.

National Baby Safety Month is this September, but your child’s safety is a priority on a daily basis. We hope you check out these tips and continue to practice them not just this month but beyond and make sure to keep your baby safe every day.

Back-To-School Photos 3 Ways With ZINK Photo Paper

September 5, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Thank you to our friends at ZINK Zero Ink® for sponsoring this post! This post also contains Amazon Associates links.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, school starts the day after Labor Day – which meant that this little man started his first day of first grade this week! Starting first grade is a big deal for everybody in a family – it’s a milestone, and also a big change in routine. We thought it would be nice to help smooth the transition a little by doing something special to mark the occasion, so we used a modern-day take on classic camera technology to snap an instant “First day of school” photo!

ZINK Zero Ink®: Instant Photo Printing For Gen Z

Remember taking first day of school photos when we were kids? Mom would pull out that huge Polaroid camera, the flash would blind you, and you’d wait eagerly to see the photo develop – and hope your eyes weren’t crossed! Polaroid, Kodak and Canon still make instant-print cameras, but the technology has come a long way. Thanks to ZINK Zero Ink® printing technology, you can print on demand without ink cartridges or ribbons – all the color required for printing is actually embedded within the paper itself. This means that today’s instant print cameras are a fraction of the size and weight of yesteryear’s! And if you want the fun and convenience of instant printing without needing to carry a second camera around, you can also pick up standalone instant-photo printers that hook up to your smartphone and are small enough to slip in your pocket. Technology may change, but the excitement of getting an instant photo print transcends generations, and we found it to be the perfect activity to channel those first-day-of-school nerves!

How to Stage a Great Back-To-School Photo

The easiest way to get a great back-to-school photo is to use a cute, simple prop that your kids can help with. In our Back-To-School Tech Gift Guide, we featured a number of hacks for that busy first morning of school, including a Color Changing Cinema Light Box that you can use to write special messages on. We wrote “First Day of First Grade” and let the man of the hour put the letters on the box and pick which “Emojis” he wanted to use. A simple activity like this helps to quell nerves, and makes a super cute photo prop! Once we had set the stage for the picture, we snapped two photos: One on my smartphone, and one using an instant camera. This allowed us to immediately enjoy the photos in three different ways:

#1: Instagram in Real Life

Printing photos with the Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter

These days, most of our photos live in the cloud and get distributed on social media. I often hear older members of the family, such as our 91-year-old Grandma, say that they miss seeing all the cute grandkid photos because they’re not on Instagram. Fortunately, you can now distribute the same photos to both the cloud and paper instantaneously with the Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter! This pocket-sized printer pairs wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet via the Polaroid Print App, giving you the traditional Polaroid experience right from your phone! Using the app, you can edit your smartphone snaps with Instagram-worthy filters, stickers, and frames, send to the ZIP Instant Photoprinter to print out in less than 60 seconds, and share to social straight from the app.

Pin Me!

This is the simplest and most fun way to bring Instagram to the real world and share those special first-day-of-school photos with any relative. Since you can print on demand, you can make an instant copy of any photo on your phone whenever Grandma wants one! These 2″x3″ photos also make fun items for kids to trade with their friends on the schoolyard.

The Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter is pocket-sized at 2.91″ x 4.72″ and weighs just .41 lbs, so you can take it anywhere you go. It retails for $90.79 and pairs with the free Polaroid Print App available on iOS and Android. It uses Polaroid ZINK Zero Ink 2×3″ Paper to print smudge-proof photos with a sticky back; a 30-pack retails for $14.50, perfect for capturing back-to-school moment into the holiday season!

#2: Make Your Own Photo Sticker in 60 Seconds

Pin Me!

When it comes to taking those “First-day-of-school” photos, the most important aspect is keeping it snappy and quick. Your child already has enough on their mind, and your morning will be rushed as it is – this is not the time for a lengthy photoshoot. Fortunately, the KODAK Smile Instant Print Digital Camera is here to capture and print those back-to-school memories instantly! This cute, super-portable camera has a nostalgic design, but the technology has sure come a long way from Kodachrome. Small and lightweight, this camera has an LCD viewfinder display built right in so that you can review your images before they print. (Kids these days will never know the pain of an important photo having your head cut off!) You can edit your photos right on the camera itself to add borders, filters, or put it in photo booth mode; and when your masterpiece is ready, you can print it straight from the camera in less than a minute. And because it uses KODAK ZINK Photo Paper, the images come out on adhesive-backed paper, meaning that you’ve just created your own photo sticker.

To help get this freshly-minted first grader excited for his first day, we let him know that he would get to take a special sticker with him to school – because if there’s one thing kids love, it’s stickers! He picked the perfect spot in the kitchen where he wanted to take a photo with the lightbox, I snapped a quick pic, and we had a fabulous sticker 60 seconds later.

Decorating his school folder with a KODAK Smile Instant Print

He carefully placed his special sticker on one of his school folders to commemorate the big day! This is such a fun activity for kids, and a great keepsake.

The KODAK Smile Instant Print Digital Camera retails for $99.99 and comes in a kid-friendly, slide-open design in a variety of fun colors. The camera comes with a micro USB charging cable and a starter package of KODAK ZINK 2″x3″ Photo Paper, so you’ll have everything you need right out of the box!

#3: Create a DIY Photo Garland

Pin Me!

Making crafts can be fun, but also time-consuming. For most busy moms, just getting their kids to school by itself is a big enough project on the first day – never mind trying to replicate some complicated scrapbook tutorial for those first-day photos. That’s why the Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer is amazing – it puts the fun back in crafting! This purse-sized printer connects to your phone via Bluetooth using the companion app on iOS/Android. You can have all kinds of fun editing the photos in the app – the first-grader drew a big smiley face on his photo! – and then print on demand with no ink needed thanks to ZINK Photo Paper.

After the school drop-off, I thought it would be fun to print a few of the photos I had taken that morning and make a simple photo garland. It was so easy: I just took a piece of colorful twine, tied it on the mantle, and then used clothespins to attach the photos. This is a craft that even busy people have bandwidth for, and it looks super cute!

This was a fun surprise for the little guy to come home to after school – he was so happy to see the garland hanging there, and it made him feel special.

The Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer comes in three stylish colors and retails for $99.99. The Canon IVY app allows you to edit, share and print photos from your phone over Bluetooth. Canon IVY uses Canon ZINK Photo Paper to instantly print 2″X3″ photos – no ink required!

ZINK made it so easy and fun to capture and share an awesome first-day-of-school photo, and do a “Pinterest project” in a way that was actually feasible for real life, during a real busy morning!

Parents: What are YOUR tips for taking successful back-to-school photos?

Everything You Need to Know About Lice and Nit Removal

September 4, 2019 by Beeb 11 Comments

This guest post is brought to you by our sponsor WelComb®.

It’s another normal day until your child comes home from school, unzips his or her backpack and hands you the lice letter. Oh no! You’re instantly filled with fear as you imagine the struggle of ridding your child’s head of lice. Right?? Not so fast!

Eliminating a lice infestation is a lot less dramatic than you might think. It truly can be a fear-free and drama-free process! How? By using the wet combing method. This safe, effective and all-natural method of lice removal is all about physically removing lice and nits from the head. It’s as simple as that!

SAY GOODBYE TO THE NITS

The foundation of the wet combing method is the nits (lice eggs). When you visit the lice removal aisle at the store, you’ll see many products that claim to kill lice. And they do! But they don’t kill nits, and that’s why they don’t work. As long as the lice eggs remain on your child’s head, they will continue to hatch and produce more lice. That’s why physically removing the nits by combing them off the head is the ONLY way to eliminate a lice infestation!

HOW THE WET COMBING METHOD WORKS

So how does the wet combing method work? All you need is water, conditioner, and a lice comb. Why water? Because lice freeze in place when wet, making it that much easier to capture and remove them.

The conditioner doesn’t harm or kill the lice or nits. Its only purpose is to condition and lubricate the hair so you can easily comb them out. In other words, there’s no harsh chemicals, ineffective oils or pesticides required in the wet combing method!

This process is effective, but it certainly takes time and patience. You can find detailed lice removal instructions, including a video in both English and Spanish, at www.welcomb.com/instructions.

THE DOLLAR GENERAL LICE AND NIT REMOVAL KIT

Luckily, all the tools you need for the wet combing method are sold together in the Dollar General Lice and Nit Removal Kit with WelComb®! It has all you need and nothing you don’t. The kit includes:

Conditioner that’s free of harsh chemicals and ineffective oils. It lubricates the hair, making it easy to comb out lice and nits.
A Detangler Comb to remove tangles and evenly distribute conditioner throughout the hair.
A WelComb® that has rigid teeth just the right distance apart and a beveled edge that allows you to get right down to the scalp where lice and nits live so you can capture and remove them.

Visit your local Dollar General today to purchase a kit! You can also visit www.welcomb.com for more lice removal resources.

Dollar General Lice and Nit Removal Kit with WelComb®

Mott’s #ClearPassion Sweepstakes: Help Your Kids Pursue Their Dreams!

August 22, 2019 by Beeb 2 Comments

The product, information, and gift card have been provided by Mott’s so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Mott’s. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Mott’s.

Growing up homeschooled, my parents always nurtured my curiosity, and that gave me such a lifelong appreciation for the importance of seizing the everyday opportunities we have to learn about the world around us. Now that I’m watching the next generation of kids grow up, it’s fun to see them figuring out new things. And since everyone in our whole family loves to learn, we decided to have some fun together one recent summer morning by building robots and picking up some STEM skills!

These boys are passionate about robotics and learning how to build and code! Of course, you can’t learn properly on an empty stomach, so fortunately we had Mott’s® No Sugar Added Applesauce pouches on hand to fuel our brains for some robot-building fun.

Enjoying Mott’s No Sugar Added Applesauce

The kids love Mott’s – and us grownups love that it’s a healthy snack. And thanks to Mott’s brand new clear applesauce pouches, parents have added assurance about their children’s snack choices with quality you can see. These convenient clear pouches made their debut in July – just in time for back-to-school lunches! – and also feature some fun new friends called the Pouch Pals. Each applesauce flavor features its own special Pouch Pal character with its own distinct personality and interests, from Crispin the music-lover to Seedney the skateboarder. These high-energy friends make snacking as fun as it is delicious!

New Mott’s Clear Applesauce Pouches can be purchased in a variety of flavors and pack sizes at the majority of US retailers – flavors include Mott’s® No Sugar Added Applesauce, Mott’s® No Sugar Added Mixed Berry Applesauce, Mott’s® No Sugar Added Strawberry Applesauce, Mott’s® No Sugar Added Blueberry Applesauce and Mott’s® No Sugar Added Cherry Applesauce.

Our workstation, fueled by Mott’s!

Mott’s truly believes in helping your child pursue their #ClearPassion – which is why they’re also hosting a special sweepstakes! Whether it’s a love of robotics or a passion for ballet, Mott’s wants to help your child shine, so they’ve launched the Mott’s #ClearPassion sweepstakes. From July 22 to August 30, parents can submit photos of their kids pursuing their passions via Instagram or Twitter by tagging @Motts and using the hashtags #ClearPassion and #Sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes that help amplify their kids’ personal passions. And one grand prize winner will also receive a year’s supply of Mott’s for their family!

For more information about the Mott’s #ClearPassion sweepstakes and the new clear applesauce pouches, visit www.Motts.com. And don’t forget to follow along socially on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!

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!

Summer is Here, With JoJo Maman Bebe

July 31, 2019 by Jaime Leave a Comment

Samples provided.

Summer is here in the beautiful PacNW, and with the temperatures warming and the rain subsiding (for now), I’ve been able to bring out some of the beautiful and versatile maternity wear I received from JoJo Maman Bebe’s Summer collection. There is nothing like being pregnant through a long, hot summer to make you reconsider the essentials in your wardrobe (as well as consider retiring to the beach!).

While I have reviewed children’s clothing for JoJo Maman Bebe previously, this was my first chance to try out some of their maternity clothing, and because I am such a fan of their kids collections, I was so excited for the opportunity to try something on myself!

I received the following items:

Navy Spot & Stripe Maternity Tankini Bathing Suit

What a sweet little, 1950’s-inspired swimsuit! The halter style offers full support, and the two-piece tankini style is practical and stylish. As with most swimwear, JoJo Maman Bebe recommends rinsing immediately after use to prolong the life of the pieces.

Navy Oriental Print Pleated Maternity & Nursing Dress

This oriental-style floral dress is so elegant, and the material is so soft and silky. As someone who prefers sleeves, these flowy, half-length ones are ideal. This style also transitions to postpartum nursing Mamas with concealed panel openings in the front. I gotta say, I just felt way more glamorous than usual while wearing this gorgeous dress. Summer garden party, anyone?

Maternity & Nursing Keyhole Dress

This dress is so comfortable. The material is soft and stretchy, yet not see-through, a rarity these days (especially with an expanding belly!). I am so excited to try it the way it’s styled on the website, with leggings and boots- more of a Fall look. Currently, it’s 87-degrees Fahrenheit, so I am rocking this dress with some strappy gladiator-style sandals. Did I mention this also accommodates nursing Mamas with hidden panel openings? I love the versatility! My only criticism would be that I’d love it even more if it had pockets.

Navy Stripe Maternity & Nursing Batwing Top

This is one of the softest, comfiest shirts I own. Love the bat-wing sleeve style, hidden panel openings for nursing, and mid-hip length. I’ll definitely be incorporating this into my regular, non-maternity wardrobe. A great casual top that can be layered with a cute cardigan and taken straight into Fall.

Embroidered Maternity Dobby Blouse

This bright white, fully-lined, 100% cotton blouse makes me want to go to some sort of fiesta party; the embroidered floral pattern at the neckline is vibrant as well as beautifully detailed. I love the 3/4 length on the sleeves, and the sweet dobby pattern.

Black Geo Blouson Sleeve Maternity Blouse

This black and white blouse has been a staple in my work wardrobe since I received it. It pairs beautifully with bright trousers or dresses up classic blue jeans.

Duck Egg Blouson Sleeve Maternity Blouse

This is another that I incorporated into my work wardrobe. A fun, fresh blue, the color really works for all seasons, it’s the same blousy style as above.

In addition to these maternity looks, I also received two cute new children’s pieces:

Girls’ Cockatiel Appliqué Dress

I’ve been a huge fan of Jojo Maman Bebe’s clothing for children for several years now, and this beautiful girls Cockatiel applique dress doesn’t disappoint. 100% cotton gingham, with festive cockatiels along the hem, my daughter wore this on Easter Sunday, and it will take her through the summer. I love the attention to detail in the picot stitching and button-adjustable straps.

Girls’ Pretty Floral Blouse

This adorable blouse has a sweet cap sleeve and picot edge stitching. Airy and light cotton, this will take us through summer. I love that this style adds a little bit of fancy paired with shorts or leggings.

I am happy to report from past experience that I know these items will hold up beautifully over time, and I’m so glad to see that JoJo Maman Bebe continues to hold to their high standards for quality and style.

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.