Holiday Outfits Made Easy with Kohl’s

December 2, 2013 by 8 Comments

I have very little in the way of fashion sense.  For this reason,  I try to keep it simple, all the time.  This time of year, I take more photos then usual, which is quite a lot.  I like to do our holiday cards with less posed, cornball “look what a perfect and happy family we are” photos and more real ones (because we are far from perfect- and I readily admit to that!)  I also like to take one nice family photo every year, where we are all looking at the camera at the same time, hopefully with our eyes open.  For this photo, I like us to look decent- and we loved our new shirts ordered just for the occasion from Kohl’s Holiday Collection.

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This year, it was easy to look decent in our photos.  I shopped at Kohl’s, where the prices are affordable and the clothing will last as well- even on my husband.  My son wanted us all to wear blue for the photo (which worked out- I loved this Apt 9 crepe shirt), and he wanted us to all sit with Santa.  Why not, right?  We dressed in our new holiday clothes and headed over to Macy’s on Herald Square to check out the holiday window displays and visit Santa Claus.

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Turns out, it would be a little harder then you would think to take photos with Santa.  He took the day off, which was sort of uncool since the employee we spoke to gave us his hours for the day, LOL.  But, we had a great time looking at the windows, visiting Santaland, and then took a walk over to FAO Schwarz as well.  Why not?  It’s Christmas time in the city, after all  🙂
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Portable North Pole

December 2, 2013 by 12 Comments

Disclosure: I am a Portable North Pole Christmas Magic Ambassador. I received compensation and complementary Portable North Pole products in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Christmas time is upon us, and this time of year is not only stressful for parents but also for kids.  The all seeing big guy in a red and white suit is especially watchful right now, so best behavior is mandatory!  But what if this best behavior isn’t working out?  Instead of an upswing, is there a quick down swing in attitude and attentiveness?

Why not reaffirm the good behavior with a Santa phone call and video?  It’s cute and fun.

Check out Portable North Pole for some quality personalized items for Christmas, including their wonderful Premium Video.  The video features Santa and his elves as they go through your child’s year and gives them a naughty or nice recommendation as well as some personal details about what they have tried hard on this year and their achievements of the last 12 months.  Little Man really loved the recap of the year and the personalized pictures included in the video.  His favorite part was when Santa saw his artwork and complemented him on it.  The Little Guy had a smile bigger then the sun.  The video is downloadable or stream-able, so even when the internet goes down the video can still be seen.  I would definitely suggest saving it, no one likes a choppy Santa.  I personally love how they ask for a proper pronunciation of your child’s name.  With the number of unique names around currently, it is nice to see this special touch.
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Nintendo 2DS

November 26, 2013 by 4 Comments

 

Disclosure: The below was provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

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With every new console innovation, a bright shiny new technology is expected, but what if instead of adding something new, some components are improved.  This improvement has long been the norm for Nintendo.  First release a new innovative system, then tweak it, make it better, different and more accessible.  This is the idea behind the new Nintendo 2DS handheld system.  The handheld is based on the 3DS handheld but has tweaked a bit to have a lower price point, and more accessibility to children of all ages.  This in addition to a big design change gives players a new way to play their 3DS and DS games.

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The 2DS in comparison to the 3DS is now one solid unit, no hinge in the middle.  Also it has a more tablet-feel, with a slight tilt when put down, to rest easier on a hard surface and play in this manner.  The most remarkable characteristic of the unit is the removal of the 3D feature.  The 3DS has a slider which can increase the 3D experience or remove it completely to a 2D gaming experience.  This 2D experience is the way in which gameplay is featured on the 2DS.  You may be thinking so then why not just get a DS?  The reason is this unit could be called a DS2.  The 2DS can play most DS games as well as all 3DS games,with crisp sharp graphics and some incredibly fun games like Pokemon X and Y and Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds, the entertainment value is quite high.  With the reduction of 3D the price of the 2DS was also reduced, leading to a more wallet friendly way to get the newest system and games in the hands of you and your kids.
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Cardstore Makes Holiday Cards Easy

November 25, 2013 by 3 Comments

 

Disclosure- I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Cardstore. I received complimentary cards and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

With Thanksgiving banging on the front door and the big winter holidays right behind it, the holiday season is in full swing and which ever of the big religions you believe in.  There is no escaping a few important details, like sending holiday cards and making giant dinners.  If you are like many people, you holiday cards are hard to remember to send- on time, anyway.  Taking the photos, printing them, sending them out- and actually mailing them.  That last one can be a doozie.

The easiest part to muck up?  Well that’s easy- not sending a greeting card to Aunt Petunia in Boca Raton.  This one little mistake will lead to at least one night of regret and remorse and at least one person having their heart crushed for no other reason then an accidental skipped entry in the address book, not to mention your grandma calling to yell at you and guilt you for forgetting your precious aunt.  Not that I’ve ever done anything like this, of course.   But, to the rescue, is Card Store who now make it incredibly easy to remember all those on your holiday greeting card list including Aunts and Uncles all around the planet- even if you see or talk to them every never and don’t really understand why you need to send them cards.  LOL.
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Glow Pets- Perfect for Gifting

November 23, 2013 by 1 Comment
Disclosure: The below was provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
glo pets
Having a child that is afraid of the dark can make bedtime an ordeal. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an alternative to a traditional night light that would help your child by giving them confidence and companionship while helping them fall asleep safely? Let me tell you about Glow Pets. With a simple push of a button, your child can illuminate their room with safe LED lights that never get hot and drift of to dreamland peacefully.
 

Glow Pets are adorable, they are furry and fun companions in the daytime and they make night time activities extra special. Camping, watching movies, going to sleepovers, and even bedtime is enhanced with the soft glow that is emitted when the button on a glow pet is pushed. Children will enjoy soft glowing light while parents enjoy the 20 minute auto shut off feature. I thought that was the perfect amount of time for comfort and battery preservation.
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Filed Under: holidays, kids, review, toys Tagged With: , , , , , ,

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE FOOD AND COAT DRIVE

November 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce two initiatives to help the needy in New Jersey this holiday season. For the 17th year Paper Mill Playhouse will partner with Jersey Cares as a collection site for their winter coat drive.  New and gently used coats can be dropped off during the run of Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of OLIVER! through December 29.  The Millburn theater will also be collecting non-perishable food items to be distributed to area food pantries for their “Food, Glorious Food” Drive.  Any person that donates a coat or non-perishable food item will be rewarded with a Paper Mill Playhouse 75th Anniversary scratch-off game ticket for a chance to win valuable prizes.  Items will be collected in the main lobby at Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, New Jersey.

pic3The “Food, Glorious Food” Drive was the brainchild of 12-year-old actor Chance Friedman of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, who plays an orphan Oliver! “I’m having the time of my life singing Food, Glorious Food, but the sad truth is that even in these modern times, people in our community go hungry each day,” remarked Chance. “I’d like to do my part to fight hunger and I could use your help. When you come to see Oliver! this holiday season, please bring a non-perishable food item and drop it in the ‘Food, Glorious Food’ drive bin in the lobby of the theater. Make a donation, and consider yourself part of our hunger-fighting family.” Chance created a special video message to encourage people to donate to these worthy causes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13JeIveNbr4.

In addition to Paper Mill’s food drive efforts, the design team of Oliver! considered those less fortunate while finding footwear for the 49 cast members in the production.  Shoes purchased for the production were ordered from Toms and from Bob’s Shoes.  For every shoe purchased, these companies donate a shoe to a child in a developing country.  “The workhouse orphans in Oliver! needed a good homespun-type uniform shoe,” stated costume designer Amanda Seymour. “We thought how perfect the look of Toms and Bob’s are for this production, and how fitting that for every shoe purchased, one went to a child in need.”
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Febreeze Holiday Scents

November 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Disclosure- This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and Febreze.  All opinions are my own and honest.

Our senses are one of the most base ways we interact with out environment.  And as such, our senses are often bring up happy memories.  Baking pie brings up memories of a Great-Grandparents from years long past or fresh cut pine reminds us of Christmas.

fabreeze

Febreeze is here with their holiday scents to help bring about those joyful holiday memories and create new ones for your little ones.  Some of their seasonal scents are Cranberry Spice and Winter Frost.  Both of these are available in alternating scent dual NOTICEables which can last up more then 30 days.  These dual packs work on the simple idea that a person can get used to one smell relatively easily, but when a smell changes to another it takes longer, so a nice smell alternating with another makes for a longer lasting nice scent to the air.  During the holiday season it is all about giving the senses some extra cheer.  Be it colorful lights, the familiar sounds of relatives cooking in the kitchen (and fighting in the living room), or the smell of spiced cranberries, the senses are brought to life during the holiday season and Febreeze NOITCEables is here to help.
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The Amish Village Holiday Tradition Tour

November 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Christmastime reminds many of warm hugs and holiday cheer, but did you know the Amish don’t offer Christmas hugs; instead choosing handshakes since they prefer not to show affection? During The Amish Village’s newly unveiled Amish Holiday Tradition Tour, learn intriguing facts about Amish holiday traditions and the reasons behind these customs.

A guided tour of an original 1840 Amish Farmhouse offers an insider’s look at authentic Amish life in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, while showing how centuries-old heritage and religious beliefs influence how the Amish celebrate the holidays today. Additional seasonal decorations are displayed inside the Amish one-room schoolhouse. During the tour, guests are welcomed with regional favorite treats of pretzels and hot cider. Traditional Christmas gifts and holiday items are available for purchase while visitors sample delicious seasonal Amish delights.
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