Beyond Bedding- Adorable Bedding for Your Little Ones

August 13, 2012 by 6 Comments

Looking for some well made, and super cute bedding? Take a look at Beyond Bedding. Beyond bedding specializes in affordable unique, quality bedding for beds of all sizes. From toddler bedding sets to pretty adult bed sized micro suede sets- and all are affordable and fun!

I needed to take a look at the kids bedding sets, since Little needed a new set. Dinosaurs, stars and moons, cowboys and even teddy bears and turtles. We thought the Woodland Forest set was a perfect fit for him- he chose it himself. Everybody knows how much Little loves animals 🙂 The colors are bright, the characters are “super cutie” in Little’s words, and the price is right too. It’s always easier, in my opinion, to buy in a set that comes all together.

Little Man loves all the foxes and how busy and alive the set looks without being [Read more…]

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How to Save Money on International Travel With Kids

August 9, 2012 by 5 Comments

If you’re planning to take an international trip, automatically, there is a lot of planning
that is involved. However, if you are going to take your kids along with you, that definitely
requires a lot more forethought; especially as it relates to making the necessary financial
preparations. While you’re making out your lists, you might be tempted for feel a bit
overwhelmed. After all, vacations can be expensive enough when it’s just a couple’s trip.

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But there’s no reason to fret. Below are five tips that will show you how you can
save money on international travel when you’re bringing the kids along for the ride (well
technically, in most cases, for the flight).

When it comes to flight travel. When it comes to traveling
with your children, one of the things that can make flying internationally (or even
domestically) really pricey is all of the bags that you have to check-in. For this reason,
it’s a good idea to pack as lightly as possible, to actually speak with the customer service
agent about checking in your children’s strollers and booster seats (they will usually let
you do this for free) and to sign your kids up to get their own frequent flyer miles. Just
one international round-trip flight can store up a lot of points.

When it comes to car rentals. There’s a pretty big chance that if
[Read more…]

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Safari LTD Review – Fun Kids Toys

August 9, 2012 by 15 Comments

Toobs! Little Man’s favorite 🙂

No, its not the newest Blue Man Group Show- it’s the super mega huge Jungle Mega Toob. The Mega Toob is twice as big as the regular toob, and houses 24 animals. Ranging in nature from alligators to zebras and lions, if it’s in the zoo chances are pretty good the critter is in this toob. Also, since it is a Safari Toob, the toob itself doubles as easy storage. The top opens and closes simply, making this ideal for vacations or bringing to restaurants and keeping little hands busy. He also got the Red Panda, Orangutang, Lion, and Baby leopard. Red Panda is by far his favorite toy DuJour.

What the? Are you nuts? You may be wondering why would I want to spend my vacation looking for small plastic zebras strewn about the car? Well, the answer to this is simple, don’t give the little ones the whole toob in one shot. As you notice the number of critters [Read more…]

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5 Reasons to Encourage Your Kids to Play a Musical Instrument

August 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

Music is everywhere: you listen to it in your car and your home. It is in the elevator
at work and the department store in the mall. Chances are you often hear music without
even realizing it. Music breaks the barriers of language, race, space and time, and its
benefits for a prosperous life are innumerable. So the next time you catch your child
banging on your $500 set of pots and pans, let him bang away because your budding
drummer’s future is worth even more.

  1. The most obvious advantage of your child learning to play music is that it
    promotes creativity. Music requires using different parts of the brain than analytical
    subjects like math and science. Whether or not your child is a destined virtuoso,
    exercising the creative areas of his or her brain is healthy for your child’s development.
    This artistic outlet provides a positive channel for your children to express themselves.
    They will also find confidence in being able to communicate their emotions more
    effectively and pride in measuring their progress. With music, there are infinite
    opportunities for learning, encouraging your child to constantly strive for improvement.
  2. Just like adults, kids can experience stress. School can be overwhelming for
    a young mind, and playing music can help your child release his frustrations. Regular
    practice provides your child an outlet to relax in a routine.
  3. You will find that the concentration and coordination involved in learning a
    musical instrument will aid your children [Read more…]
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Lucy The Elephant- Unique New Jersey #FamilyTravel

July 31, 2012 by 14 Comments

There are some very unique attractions in NJ. Of course, I mean unique in the kindest of ways. There are Jersey Devils and Vortexes, albinos who attack cars, and of course enough ghosts and aliens for even the most hard-core skeptic to get goose bumps. (Have you ever read an issue of Weird NJ? You totally have to!) Today we are checking out Lucy the Elephant in Margate Beach, NJ. Lucy is a building in the shape of an elephant that you can actually go inside of. Lucy the Elephant is a part of New Jersey history.

Lucy was built by a real estate investor who was trying to drum up interest in the area in hope of pulling in investors, land owners, and tourists. The idea worked and Lucy was first built-in 1881 for the cost of $38,000- which at the time was quite the fortune. Lucy has acted as quite a few humble abodes as well as vacation homes and now a hot [Read more…]

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Hanging Out with @ZylieTheBear in Central Park at #OasisDayCamps (AND #Win a Bear!)

July 30, 2012 by 17 Comments

Me and my Little spent the morning in Central Park with the makers of Zylie the Bear and Oasis Day Camp (where my son attended camp for a month this summer). The kids had a great time playing together, with lots of activities planned and of course- meeting and learning about the guest of honor- Zylie!

Zylie is a bear after my own heart- she likes to travel 🙂 Zylie the Bear, an innovative new teddy bear line that is all about fashion and adventure, has a silly little brother, likes to learn, visits a museum, and has a Panda friend from China named Shen. In her first book, which was read in parts to the kids, we learn about Zylie and what makes her so much fun. The kids, both boys and girls alike, had a great time hearing her story and playing with the bears. Then, all the “little campers” had a morning of recreational and creative [Read more…]

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Meet Me at @SesamePlace #ThemePark

July 30, 2012 by 3 Comments

One of my son’s summer highlights has been his trip to Sesame Place in Buck’s County, PA. I grew up with Sesame Street, and as a teacher I love the educational, social, and cultural values it helps to instill. As a parent- I love it, too! There are versions of Sesame Street all over the world- from Russia to Mexico. Something about knowing that this sweet, educational show unites kids globally (literally) really touches me- and even more so now that I myself am a mom, teacher, and travel enthusiast. You can’t see the world until you go out and experience it- start young, and make a little global citizen. But I digress!

We had so much fun at the theme park, there are all sorts of fun rides- and for once, they are ALL aimed at little ones.

Do my feet match Big Bird’s?

One of Little Man’s favorite rides was the Flyin’ Fish, which had Elmo faced fish of all kinds- with a unique Sesame twist, of course. After all, what is a catfish without ears and whiskers? LOL Kids can press a button in the ride, and make it rise up and down as it spins (slowly).

We [Read more…]

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6 Flags Giveaway and Coupon #WIN

July 30, 2012 by 39 Comments

6 Flags Theme Parks are everywhere. Chances are, if you are in the continental United States, you are within driving distance to a 6 Flags. This theme park is a great area-specific destination, from 6 Flags Great Adventure in NJ, to Six Flags Over Texas- keep an eye out and you will find one. There is even a Six Flags Mexico, in Mexico City, Mexico, so even on vacation in another country you can get your thrills and chills. 🙂

We love Six Flags for their varied rides and attractions. You can find everything from Bugs Bunny to Camp Carousel to the Scream Machine- Six Flags has rides for everyone. I was just talking to “daddy” about this, and he remembers the first time he finally got up the nerve to go on a roller coaster. It was when on a day trip with some friends to Great Adventure, way back in the middle school days. At first he didn’t want to go on any roller coasters, but as soon as we entered the park everyone hoped on line for the first coaster they saw. Right away, he says his nerves kicked in and he was frightened to no end. He says he freaked out, and it took every ounce of energy to stand in line and not hop over the line guides and wait at the end. (Ah, my big brave man! LOL) He claims it took about 30-40 minutes in line until it was his turn. Last chance to [Read more…]

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