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The Oregon Zoo: Your Family Holiday Destination

December 22, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Thank you to the Oregon Zoo for hosting my family and I!

This weekend is your last opportunity to see ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo before Christmas! If you want a magical night that provides fun for the whole family, head on down to the Oregon Zoo this weekend. Our family went to ZooLights a couple of years back and I can’t wait to experience it again!

The Oregon Zoo is the perfect place to meet up and connect with your loved ones. Over Labor Day weekend, my aunt from Montana came to the Pacific Northwest to visit her daughter who lives in Washington State. Her granddaughter also happens to live in Portland, so the Oregon Zoo was a great location for us to all rendezvous – especially since this was her one-year-old great-grandchild’s first-ever visit to a zoo!

Visiting the zoo with family provides so much entertainment for the whole group. There’s so much to see and enjoy, yet it’s the perfect setting to be able to connect with your loved ones, chat and catch up while you walk the grounds. And the kids won’t get bored of sitting around while the grownups talk, since they’ll be delighting in all the animals and activities just for little ones!

Seeing the wonder of a small child being exposed to new sights and animals for the first time is always very special. Even as an adult, watching these majestic creatures is just awe-inspiring. And the Oregon Zoo’s focus on conservation and education is crucial for young and old alike.

One can’t-miss spot for families is the petting zoo. As MomStart’s resident rabbit lover, I must point out that the petting zoo is home to soft, sweet, and adorable BUNNIES!

BUNNIES!!!

And the buns weren’t the only fun friends we met at the petting zoo:

Our family had a day to remember at the Oregon Zoo. I actually just got a Christmas card from my aunt where she specifically mentioned our zoo trip and thanked me for taking her there – so if you want to create lasting memories with your loved ones, I highly recommend it! Whether you have family traveling in from out of state or just want a fun spot to meet up with your local crew, the Oregon Zoo is the perfect destination to spend quality time. It offers something for all ages, and just gets even more magical this time of year. If your Christmas spirit needs a little pumping up, this will definitely do the trick!

ZooLights runs through January 5th, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when it will be closed for the holiday. For details on hours and tickets, visit OregonZoo.org.

Make The Holidays Merry & Bright With Wonster Words!

December 21, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post.

For most kids in our area, today was the last day of school before holiday vacation. We all look forward to having a nice break during Christmas – it’s a great opportunity to spend more quality time together as a family. However, school holidays can also lead to boredom and learning loss. Fortunately, you can keep the kids occupied while you wrap up those last holiday errands, and they’ll be learning priceless skills at the same time – thanks to Wonster Words!

If you’ve heard me talk about Wonster Words before, then you already know that I’m a fan. Wonster Words is an award-winning educational app for Android and iOS that helps build your child’s understanding of ABC phonics and spelling. Taking inspiration from the classic educational TV programming that we all grew up with, Wonster Words is an interactive puzzle game featuring cute characters that lead children through stories and introduce them to concepts such as basic word families and the 44 most common phonemes. The app prompts kids to figure out the spelling of words by dragging and dropping animated letters as they sound out the phonics, consonant blends and gliding vowels. When the letters are arranged correctly, the meaning of the word is visually illustrated by short animations and mini-games. It’s a fantastic way to teach children how to spell, because they get to interact directly with the word structure in a hands-on way to see where the letters should go, while playing with the sounds and watching the story of what each word means.

Learning through stories on the Wonster Words app

Wonster Words contains 12 word stories about fun topics like birthdays, friendship, and space that take children through 12 word families, so as they explore the app, they’ll be exposed to hundreds of different words. Because the format presents the material naturally within a fun game, children are encouraged to explore at their own pace without pressure, for an organic and enjoyable learning experience.

The app is updated frequently with new content, and they have all kinds of fun additions for the 2018 holiday season! Wonster Words has a brand new user experience with the interactive Wonster Island landing screen, which allows users to explore a fun island full of new and different themes. Now, in addition to the great phonics exercises, Wonster Words is loaded with new educational biomes that cover basic math, science, art and music. It’s the perfect way to familiarize students with different topics in the same effective and fun format that we’ve come to love from Wonster Words, using interactive shapes and sounds to introduce new concepts. Alongside the new Wonster Island interface, the 2018 holiday update also includes new mini-games and 5 new original scores; and there will be more great content coming soon to Wonster Words, including vowels.

Try Wonster Words in your family, and you’ll soon see why it’s won awards from Parent’s Choice, National Parenting Product Award, Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice and more. I think your family will love it as much as mine does! The app is geared towards children aged 3 to 6, and is free with in-app purchases. Get it today on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon!

8 Awesome Shelving Ideas For Home Offices

December 21, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.

With many people shifting to freelancing or starting their own entrepreneurial ventures, working from home has become a rage. People try to create the best working space and environments at home to increase their productivity. If space is designed in the right way, then home offices can become innovative and can become a source of driving out of maximum creativity. Adding appropriate elements can create a working environment that is inspirational and motivating. A couple of contemporary additions can help in forming a high yielding and feel good atmosphere.

Irrespective of the space from where you are working, the importance of getting the work done with maximum efficiency remains the same. Your productivity should not get affected just because of the fact that you are working from home. It becomes way easier to achieve better results when the working space is comfortable and inspiring. Amazing home offices can be made by including any elements that uplift the whole vibe of your working space. Be it your own personal desk or a big room at your home, you can create a functional working shelve almost anywhere you want.

We have provided a list of eight from awesome shelving ideas for your home offices. Take a look at these ideas to revamp your working shelf:

Add potted plants on your working shelve: The whole concept of artificial landscaping has the power to enliven almost any space and that too in a smarter way. You don’t have to worry things like sufficient light reaching your plants or watering the plants every day like real plants. Artificial plants come in many varieties and look just the same as natural plants. You can consider adding faux plants, artificial outdoor flowers in your plants, green artificial plants or silk flowers to lift up your working shelf.

Add books around your desk: A working desk never requires a lot of space. You don’t need a big room to create a good home office. Instead, all you need to upgrade your office space is to switch on that creative side in yourself. You can stack some books on a shelf close to your working shelf. This shelf could either be horizontal, e; right above your working desk or vertical, i.e; on the side of your working shelf. These books will add an amazing appeal to your home office.

Make it bright: If you have a vibrant personality and are a fan of bright colors then consider adding some colors on your working shelf. You can add colorful decorative pieces that are a combination of being functional and vibrant at the same time. This working environment can bring a sense of fun and brightness to your work. Working on this colorful shelf will never seem dull. In fact, the colorful surroundings can be a way to bring about maximum productivity and efficiency in your work. Turn on your boldness and experiment with adding as many colors you like in different ways.

Wooden shelves: Open wooden shelves are a great way to make the home office space look elegant and edgy. A solid wooden shelf will serve as an excellent method to keep your laptop, important documents, diaries, stationery etc. You can also add some wooden drawers below this shelf to increase your storage options. Storing things in the right way is of great help in keeping the working shelf Using a solid wooden table and drawers to organize everything uniformly can help you gain uniformity on your working shelf.

Add a sense of minimalism: Having a minimalistic working approach proves to be of great help in getting rid of all the disorder. It is significant to work in an ordered space if you want to be productive. Make a list of all the important things that you actually need on your working shelf and all the things you don’t. Then get rid of all the unimportant things to declutter your working A clean working shelf will also help in having a clean psychological headspace. This step is important to have both mental and physical cleanliness.

Go monochrome: Add elements of black and white to the working shelf of your home office. Monochrome spaces are considered to be classic. They make any space look artistic and stylish. You can add some black and white decorative or art pieces to make your working shelf appeal good. There is also an option of adding custom made monochrome storage pieces which increase both the functional and elegance quotient.

Add good lighting: Home offices are a perfect way to create customized working spaces. While the decorative items and furniture should be given due importance one of the most important things is good lighting. Lights are important to make working time lively. With the amazing range of lamps and lights available today, you can choose whatever that matches your personality. Right from colonial style lamps, to geometric and artistic modern lamps and lighting options, you can find a lighting option that makes even the darkest nooks lighten up.

Add some inspiring art pieces: Art has always been a source of education, inspiration and impactful in our lives. You can decorate your home office with 3d wall panels, or add an art piece that you hold meaning for you to revamp the working area. An inspiring artwork will be an extraordinary way to direct your concentration towards work. Choose this option wisely to add to lift up a boring working space.

If you work from home then you can use these tricks to make your working space a lot more efficient and fun. These tricks will help you in creating a home office which will be a unique blend of purpose and beauty. Follow these ideas to make sure that your productivity stays high. These tips are your guide to a stylish and a classic home working environment.

Entenmann’s & Bumblebee: A Sweet Pairing! (Special Offer + Giveaway)

December 20, 2018 by Beeb 66 Comments

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

What’s even better than enjoying a delicious snack? Enjoying a delicious snack AND a movie while saving money! In honor of the upcoming film BUMBLEBEE, Entenmann’s has a great deal for movie fans: Purchase three specially marked boxes of Entenmann’s® Little Bites® muffins, eight count donuts or Entenmann’s®Minis through January 5th, 2019, and you’ll receive $5 off a ticket to see BUMBLEBEE!

You know that I never pass up a great deal, so I hit my local grocery store this morning to snag my three specially marked boxes! All I have to do is submit my receipt, and I’ll be on my way to some great savings at the cinema. I love deals like this that lead to making great memories with our family. Have you heard about BUMBLEBEE yet? It looks super cute – I saw Hailee Steinfeld performing a song from the soundtrack on The Voice last week and it was really fun. Here’s a little peek at the film’s story:

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

Good deals like this are just one of many reasons to love Entemann’s. Our household has been big fans of their tasty treats for years now – their handy, pre-portioned pouches of Little Bites® muffins are made with real ingredients like bananas, blueberries and strawberries and are the perfect thing to pack in my husband’s lunch and snack on while I write my blog posts. And who could forget the delicious Entenmann’s Rich Chocolate Frosted, Crumb and Powdered cake style donuts? Plus, there’s also the option of grabbing a light snack with Entenmann’s® Minis, which are smaller, individually wrapped versions of your favorite Entenmann’s products. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Entenmann’s has something to please!

For full details on this promotion and more about Entemann’s products, click here. You can also follow Entemann’s on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more on all their delectable goodies. And don’t forget to see BUMBLEBEE in theaters TOMORROW, December 21st!

Enter To Win:

In honor of Entenmann’s and BUMBLEBEE, we’re hosting a special giveaway just for our readers! One lucky person will win a $25 virtual Visa gift card and (3) coupons for $5.00 off the purchase of Entenmann’s Little Bites muffins!

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. While Entenmann’s is providing the coupons and gift card, MomStart is responsible for hosting and administering the giveaway, which ends on January 6th, 2019 at 11:00 PM PST. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18+ – sorry, no P.O. boxes. Please see the Rafflecopter widget for full details; and click here to read our giveaway rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding Clara The Journey of 4 Young Dancers

December 10, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This post is in partnership with Justice.

We have really been impressed with the ways that Justice, my daughter’s favorite place to go shopping for clothing and tween accessories, has been branching out. Girls can now get their ears pierced there, they can attend a myriad of fun events and they can find new books that teach them about girl empowerment. We’ve also just learned about Justice Studios, the new entertainment division within the Justice brand, that unveiling its newest piece of content: a full-length documentary called, “Finding Clara!” Finding Clara follows the journeys of four young dancers as they audition and practice the role of Clara for the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. And just to let you know, it’s fantastic. My daughter in particular loves acting and dancing so very much. She really enjoyed watching the girls go through the process of learning everything and seeing how hard each of the girls worked.

About Finding Clara

In partnership with BalletMet, Elevate Pictures and Justice were given exclusive access to go behind-the-scenes of the beloved Nutcracker production to see it through the eyes of four hard-working young dancers in a unique web series entitled, “Finding Clara.”

The original series was adapted into an 87-minute full-length documentary that follows the girls through auditions, months of challenging rehearsals, as well as the moment the girls found out who landed the lead role of Clara. It’s been years since I’ve seen the live performance of the Nutcracker, and as I would love to see it again really soon, I’m excited by this documentary.

Just in time for the holidays, you can watch Finding Clara with your family. It can be downloaded on Video on Demand on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon now for $9.99 purchase or rental (fees may vary). For more details, visit Justice at shopjustice.com or on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

#JusticeStudios #FindingClara #ParentsWithHeart #BelieveinMagicBelieveinJustice #LiveJustice

Justice Ultra Squad Inspiring Girls

November 14, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Justice and our opinions are our own.

Justice is our one stop shop for clothing, accessories and everything tween fashion. My daughter always wants to stop at Justice every time we go to the mall, even if we are just window shopping. And honestly, I don’t mind because their clothing fits her so well and perfectly matches her personality!

Just in time for the holidays, Justice has just released a new graphic novel titled “Ultra Squad.” Ultra Squad is the first release from Justice Studios, a new entertainment division of Justice, that tells the story of a group of four ordinary girls who end up becoming a Secret Inter-GIRL-actic team with new ultra supergirl powers! We recently received a very special box from Justice that contained the new book and some special swag to celebrate the new book! Both of my kids are interested in comic books so it couldn’t be more perfect. My daughter is actually in a comic book-making art class right now, so the new book from Justice is right up her alley.

The Ultra Squad, together with their bizarro-cute sidekicks, the PALLIES, find out that ultra-unstoppable girls can make a difference in and out of this world! Zoe read the book in about five minutes, and now Miles is reading it on the way to school. I love that it’s a super girl book to inspire girls and that my son is interested in it as well.

Zoe said to me, “It was an inspiring book that teaches girls they can do anything they want to. It follows the story of four girls who learn that they get to be a team of superheroes called the Ultra Squad, and on their journey they make friends called the Palidorians, who are going to be their PALLIES. And they team up to save the world.”

Ultra Squad is available online and in stores for just $8 while supplies last.

#ParentsWithHeart #JusticeStudios #UltraSquad #LiveJustice

Ralph Breaks the Internet World Premiere

November 8, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Just a few days ago I was at the Ralph Breaks the Internet World Premiere and it was a busy busy place. The carpet was FULL of people excited to see the movie for the first time. I mean, what would you expect when you are in front of royalty, princess royalty. By now everyone knows that Ralph Breaks the Internet has what is belovedly called “The Princess Scene”. Well not to give you any spoilers or anything, but there is more than just the scene to look forward to.

So while trying to walk my way down the BLUE carpet, I walked by some of the actresses that play the Disney Princesses giving interviews. They all looked so beautiful, even the newest addition, Sarah Silverman, who somehow changed after watching the movie and before the after party. It was like she used her magic Disney princess wand and transformed into Vanellope.

Speaking of the after party, it was amazing. I walked around with a few friends and took some phots, had an amazing dinner and then found a quiet place to sit. Shortly after, I realized we were sitting across from princess Moana, Auli’i Cravalho. She was nestled in a corner enjoying the after party when all of the sudden she was visited by almost every other princess that came to the party. It was amazing because I was suddenly surrounded by all the princesses. They hugged each other, and then Sarah Silverman jumped into the party of hugs too. Because I kept my phone down, I was able to just watch and enjoy the whole thing. As Sarah was leaving the party she jumped in my face said enjoy the party and bounded out of the room. It was most certainly a night to remember.

So here are some photos from the Ralph Breaks the Internet World Premiere and after party.

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ABOUT THE MOVIE:

In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” video-game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) leave the comforts of Litwak’s arcade in an attempt to save her game, Sugar Rush. Their quest takes them to the vast, uncharted world of the internet where they rely on the citizens of the internet—the Netizens—to help navigate their way. Lending a virtual hand are Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site “BuzzzTube,” and Shank (voice of Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces—so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he’s ever had.Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” writer, “Cedar Rapids”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt,” “Lilo & Stitch”), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.

http://disney.com/ralphbreakstheinternet

https://www.youtube.com/user/disneyanimation

https://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph/

https://twitter.com/wreckitralph

https://www.instagram.com/wreckitralph

Amazon Black Friday Device Deals Sneak Peek #BlackFriday

November 2, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This post contains our Amazon Associates link.

It’s November! Can you believe it?! This year has gone by in the blink of an eye. So to help you get a jump-start on your holiday shopping, today we’re sharing a sneak peek at the upcoming Black Friday deals on Amazon devices. The deals start on the 16th and will only be available for a short time on Amazon.com, so bookmark this page, make a note on your calendar, and get ready to snag some deals on gifts that will delight your whole family:

·         Starting November 16:

o   Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet is $30 off—just $69.99

o   All-New Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet is $40 off—just $89.99

o   Fire HD 10 tablet with Alexa Hands-Free is $50 off—just $99.99

o   Fire HD 10 Kids Edition tablet is $50 off—just $149.99

·         Starting November 18:

o   Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote will be $15 off—only $24.99

o   Fire TV Stick 4K with all-new Alexa Voice Remote is $15 off—only $34.99

o   Fire TV Cube with Far-Field Voice Control and 4K UHD/HDR is $60 off—just $59.99

·         Starting November 21:

o   Blink XT 1-cam system is $51 off—only $78.99, or get a 3-cam system for $90 off—just $229.99

·         Starting November 22:

o   Echo Dot (2^nd gen) is $20 off—only $19.99

o   All-New Echo Dot is $25.99 off—just $24.00

o   Echo (2^nd gen) is $30.99 off—only $69.00

o   All-New Echo Plus is $40 off—only $109.99

o   All-New Echo Show is $50 off—just $179.99

o   Echo Spot is $40 off—only $89.99

o   Amazon Smart Plug is just $5 with purchase of an Echo device

o   Fire 7 tablet with Alexa is $20 off—only $29.99

o   All-New Fire HD 8 tablet with Hands-Free Alexa is $30 off—just $49.99

o   All-New Fire HD 8 tablet and Show Mode Dock bundle $39.99 off—just $79.99

o   Fire HD 10 tablet and Show Mode Dock bundle $59.99 off—just $144.99

o   Kindle Paperwhite (7^th gen) is $40 off—only $79.99

Wall Art From Canvas Champ: The Perfect Holiday Gift

November 1, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This post is written in partnership with BraVoMark and Canvas Champ.

Personal, thoughtful gifts are the ones that we always remember. I’ve found that photo gifts are some of the most memorable and appreciated presents I’ve given – taking a treasured old photo and transforming it onto a new medium allows you to enhance and share a special memory with your family and close friends. Although there are many different kinds of photo gifts, I’m really partial to canvas printing. A canvas transforms a photo into a special work of art for your home – it’s the best way to display pictures, in my opinion, as I’ve found that it really draws out and enhances every part of the image. That’s why a photo canvas from Canvas Champ is the perfect way to surprise your loved ones with a piece of wall art they will enjoy for years to come!

Our wedding day! Photo by Jason Hill Photography

With prompt service and delivery, affordable prices, and beautiful, high-quality products, you can rest assured that your order from Canvas Champ will turn out just the way you want. There are a variety of options for customizing your canvas, and you’ll receive a digital proof to review before placing the order so you can make sure everything is literally “Picture perfect”! I used Canvas Champ to create a large canvas print of one of our favorite bridal photos earlier this year, and we enjoy looking at it every single day – it’s perfect. So if you want to immortalize your own special memory and give the best Christmas gift ever, Canvas Champ has you covered!

Have you ever given or received a photo gift before?

SONIC Limeades For Learning Needs Your Help

October 14, 2018 by Momstart 2 Comments

SONIC has provided us with a gift card to use at one of their amazing locations. They also provided us with a gift card to DonorsChoose.org in exchange for this blog post.

I love when a company is making a different in our community and today we have a second company making a difference. The first was Comcast, and now we have SONIC. It’s that time of year again for SONIC’s Limeades for Learning. 10th annual Fall Voting campaign has begun. Limeades for Learning® is a national award-winning initiative to support U.S. public school teachers in local communities.

For 10 years now SONIC is helping teachers and you can help in a few different ways. Since the launch of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated $10.4 million to public school teachers and impacted over 600,000 students nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in today’s youth.

How to Help Teachers with SONIC

Throughout the month of October, SONIC will distribute $1 million to public school teachers across the country. Projects with the most votes at the end of each week will receive funding, while remaining projects get a chance to be fulfilled the following week as votes roll over.

During the voting period, Monday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 28, SONIC encourages you to visit LimeadesForLearning.com and vote daily on specific teacher projects that inspire you. And as I look through them, I find that it is really hard to choose. I love the First Robotics Team – Take a Leap for Our… and the Robot “Brain” to Help Expand… projects because I find STEM to be such an important topic students need in schools.

There are four ways to earn votes for teacher projects throughout the Fall Voting campaign:

You can vote once daily after signing up with a valid email address
You can visit a SONIC Drive-In to get a bag sticker code worth two votes
You can vote ten times to receive two extra votes via email
You can share on social media to earn two extra votes

Recognizing that public school teachers needed more support, SONIC Drive-In partnered with DonorsChoose.org ten years ago. In 2009 SONIC launched Limeades for Learning with its first Fall Voting campaign. This is I think our third year to partner with SONIC and share with you this amazing program. This year, I want to help one of the neighborhoods impacted by one of the hurricanes Florence and Michael.

With the help and support of SONIC fans, by 2021 SONIC’s total contribution to local public school classrooms will exceed $20 million.