Gifts for the Active Men in Your Life #GiftGuide

November 28, 2018 by 18 Comments

If you are anything like us, you want to be active and outside as much as possible. Colder weather complicates things, but not to worry. You can get outdoors and enjoy your vitamin D year round, just bundle up a bit. Check out these functional and eco friendly cool-weather options we are loving right now- they would be perfect for the active men in your life this holiday season.

eco friendly clothing

Stopping off at Trader Joe’s on the way home- active wear that is great as any wear

The perfect slip on shoe for indoors or out, the Original Stegmann is not only comfortable, but also functional. They are great for camping, running errands, and everything in between. They have fantastic arch and toe support, so if you have aching feet, issues like Plantar Fasciitis, or a bad back, these might be worth considering. They have free shipping and exchanges, so nothing to lose. Made with a Tyrolian & Merino wool blend into a single piece, it is then paired with an anatomically contoured cork sole that is balanced for both arch and metatarsal support. These shoes have a gentle slope which helps reduce ankle and back pain as well. These shoes as a whole are designed for comfort, so if that’s your thing- and honestly, whose isn’t- check them out at https://www.stegmannusa.com . Prices vary.

A brand we have really fallen in love with over here is Mountain Khakis. Not only are the products soft and durable, but the environmentally friendly fabrics and practices have completely won us over.  Take for example the Rainmaker Jacket. It’s all sorts of wet-proof (rain, snow, mud, etc), and it’s strechy as well. It’s also warmer then some raincoats, without being swelteringly-sticky-hot like so many can be. A nice medium-to lightweight, and easily layered. It has a removable hood, with welded seams and snap-closed patch pockets.  It has a relaxed fit and hits about the hip area. Best part? The eco-friendliness of this jacket. Polyurethane is a greener alternative to the traditional raincoat’s vinyl. It’s also more durable and is better for the environment in long term care and use. Polyurethane does not require the chemicals used to soften vinyl in the manufacturing process, and is eventually biodegradable, where as PVC (vinyl) never breaks down, and is usually incinerated.  This leaches toxins into landfills and emits carcinogenic dioxin into the air. Any reason to choose PVC over PU? Not in my book. Check out https://www.mountainkhakis.com for your jacket, available in several colors, for $139.

Your new go-to sweatshirt will be the Poker Flats Pullover, which is soft and cuddly, perfect for chilly nights.  Named for the inspiring Teton National Park, this namesake sweatshirt is also inspiring. With it’s certified recycled fleece (which is made using sustainable REPREVE® technology) fabric, each garment reuses about 25 plastic bottles in it’s creation. Half zip, relaxed fit  with a high collar that can be folded down, it also has a snap chest pocket and thumb thumb loops. It comes in two shades- one is several shades of blues and greens, the other is a deep red with shades of grey. Get yours at https://www.mountainkhakis.com for $85

The Old Faithful Pants are just that. The most comfortable winter all-around pants we’ve found in ages, we find ourselves living in these. As in, I’ve had to peel them off my partner to wash them, he doesn’t want to part with them that long (like when you have to wrestle that dress or much loved t-shirt off your toddler, and you need to promise to put it right into the wash, they can have it right back- promise!) I jest, but not much. Known also as the “campfire pant”, these  pants are made with recycled sweaters. They are both sweatpants and pants, with a drawstring waistband as well as a zippered fly. Yes, multiple pockets. The ribbed waistband and cuffs at the ankles keep the pants where you want them, and comfortably so. (Are you seeing that the themes here are comfort and function? Because seriously so.) Thicker then most sweatpants, but not sweaty-thick- just warm. The legs are slim fit, which surprised and weirded us out for a hot second, but only about one. Got used to them in no time, and they have become, as mentioned, our very favorites. These come in “oatmeal and black”, but seem really more like light grey and dark grey to the novice eye. $90 at https://www.mountainkhakis.com

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Love To Travel? You Will Love These Bags

November 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment

If you love to travel as much as we do, then you will love these bags. Good for overnights and weekends at Grandma’s, they are just as useful for long trips.

have sippy will travel

The National Geographic luggage line by Eagle Creek is extremely durable, with weatherproof tarpaulin outer that makes the pack easy to wipe clean both inside and out. What’s not to love about that? Especially if you have kids- but anything you are dragging around is bound to get dirty, all the better if it’s easy to clean up. Since it’s easy to clean, it makes sense that the zippers are water resistant (and self repairing!). These lockable zippers have protection from thieves, wind, water, and more. It has a laptop compartment that can also be locked, as well as zippered mesh pockets and key fob. You can separate your dirty or wet items from clean items and main compartment with the front zipper compartment, and there is even a hidden space for your passport, wallet, phone- whatever items you want to keep close and safe.  Designed to be secure, it has compression straps, internal gear attachment, D rings, and it comes with an emergency whistle and spots that reflect light to help keep you visible.  Several types of bags available, prices vary, see https://www.eaglecreek.com/national-geographic for options.

The Wayfinder Waist Packs from Eagle Creek has been crazy useful, I’ve used it pretty much nonstop. It comes in two sizes, small and medium, and it’s great for going hands free. And shoulder free- I get so tired of dragging stuff around on my back sometimes, and it’s often inconvenient. Biking, climbing, kayaking, whatever. If you only have a few things to take with you, the Wayfinder is perfect. High capacity, quite a few compartments and zippers for organization, water resistant, and just all around easy. The water resistant coating? It’s made from recycling the PVB coating in windshields. Really. It also makes them stain resistant, which any parent or traveler will love. $30-$40 at https://www.eaglecreek.com

wet bags

Packing Cubes, Folders and Sacs are great for keeping organized and efficient. I have no way of expressing how much I appreciate these, or how often I use them- which is always. Always. When I’m going somewhere, which is often, I always, always use these. They make traveling so much easier. The Pack-It Active™ lets you organize all your gear, you can get more of your stuff into less space, as well as keep it clean. It features antimicrobial treatment to keep the stink out, and out of the rest of your luggage if you use it to keep your dirty stuff inside. Plus, you can wash it. The Pack-It Original holds its shape very well, regardless of what you have inside it. Once opened, everything is accessible and easily found and organized inside the hotel drawer or your suitcase. Packables are super, super useful- they are small and easily packed into your luggage, luggage. Yes, I know. Why pack luggage into your luggage? Because sometimes you run out of space. It’s harder to pack laundry, or maybe you just bought too much stuff on your trip. Don’t want to buy a new suitcase, or pay for a checked bag? Enter Packables. They come in Daypack, Duffel and Tote/Pack and are useful to keep on hand whenever you travel. No reason to be caught wanting! Prices and colors vary, all under $40 at https://shop.eaglecreek.com

gym bags

Go Dash Dot is a great “go to” bag for women on the go. With several bags (and lots of color options) and sizes to choose from, it’s a fantastic gym bag, weekender, or work to weeknight bag. It can even function as a diaper bag if you so choose. Sturdy, though heavy, it comes in tote, backpack, crossbody, and more. Some have spaces for your yoga mat, sneakers (for an easy change), carabiners, and more. There is a lot of space inside, and multiple compartments to separate your items. Keep work separate from play, night life, or whatever suits you. Prices vary, go to https://godashdot.com to see what strikes your fancy.

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Get Cooking With Pop Oh Ver

November 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

My kids love to play pretend! From princess adventures to playing school; the seem to have the most fun when they make use of their imaginations. Playing in the kitchen has always been a big hit with all of my kids. When they got to try out a few fun sets from Pop Oh Ver they declared them all to be a lot of fun for their little kitchen play sessions.

My youngest daughter is all about sandwiches, so she was more than happy to get her hands on the Pop Oh Ver plus play food set . It has all the fixings to make a soft and squishy sandwich. She has had so much fun offering her little brother sandwich after sandwich and a hotdog here and there too.

The Pots and Pans set and the Master Chef set have been intriguing to my oldest daughter, who loves to help mix things up in the kitchen. I love that the pots and pans set contains a nice assortment of kitchen necessities to keep the kids entertained, and playing with enough variety to mix things up and enough toys to go around with 4 kids! The Master Chef set is a cute addition to the kitchen. I love seeing my kids dressing up like a little chef!

The Pop Oh Ver Counter and Stove set are so much fun, and I love that they pop over a kitchen chair to create a super fun way to play, even with limited space. This would be a perfect gift idea for children that live in apartments or smaller houses this holiday season!

We loved the assortment Pop Oh Ver offers as well as how cute and squishy the play food is! We have been pleased with these toys and would happily recommend them to other families. Pop Oh Ver play food has quickly become a favorite for me personally because it is so child friendly, that all of my kids can enjoy it, even my little two year old!

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WIN Must Have Kids Game – Baby Beluga

October 29, 2018 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” and “Terms of Use” tabs for more information   
I love to spend time playing games, but love it even more when my kids get to play the games along with us. I must say that The Baby Beluga Game was a perfect addition to our family game nights.

About Cooperative Games:

Cooperative Games is a little shop in Nevada City, California. Their mission is to provide products that foster cooperative play. It is also their goal to promote understanding and circulate information about why and how parents, educators, and everyone else can benefit by engaging in playful collaboration.

Every product in their store has been carefully handselected as an item that works to bring out the cooperative spirit. They work with manufacturers who practice environmental sustainability and fair trade practices through the use of recycled and sustainably produced materials. As much as possible, the items in their store are made in the U.S.

 

About The Baby Beluga Game:

The Baby Beluga Game is a brand new cooperative board game for children ages 3-10. It was created by Suzanne Lyons at Cooperative Games in cooperation with Raffi. There are three levels of play for children of all ages, – both readers and non-readers.

The illustrations and details are sure to engage your children.

This great game is made in the USA.

Included – Guidebook with simple game instructions, Ocean Science Pages, directions for more active cooperative games and a free download of Raffi singing “Baby Beluga”.

My Thoughts:

My girls and I really enjoyed playing this game. They are 6 and 8, and we had a great time. I think that it will be a great addition to any family or classroom.

Purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing this game or any of the other great games that are offered from Cooperative Games, head on over to their website. Also our lucky readers will get an extra 10% off now through November 30th as long as you use code Blog10.

Giveaway:

Feel free to enter using RC form below. Ends Nov 26, 2018. One winner chosen by RC random generator. Must complete entires to win, will be verified. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Top 10 Costumes for 2018

October 29, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Wondering what to be this year for Halloween?
Or maybe you want to avoid the costumes you’re going to be seeing  most when Halloween rolls around this year? We’ve got the answers for you, regardless of what you are wondering.

red riding hood costume

Browse the articles to find out which costumes ranked most popular this year according to Costume SuperCenter. With the latest trending movies and shows, you might anticipate some of these, but we think you might be surprised by others—so don’t miss out.

We decided to go as “The Big Bad Wolf”- even though the wolf costume we chose was more adorable then scary- and Red Riding Hood. The kids are all over the place, which is unusual- they usually like to do a theme as a group, but hey. They grow up, and they have their own independent minds, so. Things change.

The kids are going as an angel, Freddie (of 5 Nights of Freddie), and Black Panther. Not cohesive, that’s for sure, ha.

I think that, of these, it seems that Black Panther will be everywhere, as will Freddie. The Angel is a pretty standard Halloween costume, so I am sure we will see a few of those, as well. What are you going as this year? Or have you yet to choose?

 

Filed Under: holidays, review Tagged With: ,

Fall Flavors

October 29, 2018 by 9 Comments

New fall flavors from some of our favorite brands are here. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a sucker for “seasonal flavors”- I’m not sure if it’s because I know I can only have them once a year, or that it’s because it enhances the season for me in some way, but I really look forward to and enjoy the flavor changes that come seasonally.

If you are in the mood for chocoloate, Godiva has some fun options, including the NEW GODIVA Limited-Edition Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice G CUBE.  These square boxes are full of individually wrapped GODIVA truffles, in the festive “pumpkin spice” flavor that so many people look forward to- or look forward to making fun of, while they consume it in secret. Haters. Want to get a few boxes? Besides pumpkin spice (which is delightful) you can also get  Dark Chocolate Vanilla, White Chocolate Coffee, Dark Chocolate Mint, and other options. $11.95 for a 22 piece box.  You can also get a Signature GODIVA Pumpkin Spice Truffle Flight which is super cute- truffles wrapped to look like little pumpkins. $15.00 for a 5 piece set.

pumpkin spice

For an indulgent yogurt, good enough to be a dessert, try NEW noosa Pumpkin Spice Mates. These new (made in limited batch) pumpkin spice noosa mates are made with noosa’s signature rich and creamy yoghurt, with real pumpkin and spices, then topped with Purely Elizabeth brand granola, white chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds. It’s noosa’s take on a fall classic, and it’s fantastic. The kids love it, and so do mom and dad. The textures are a delight, and the flavors are perfect. You will find yourself scraping the cup for the last bits. $2.49 retail price, product finder on noosayoghurt.com.

pumpkin spice

Still feeling dessertish? Kraft Heinz just came out with two flavored whipped creams that pair perfectly with all sorts of your favorite foods. Reese’s & Hershey’s Whipped Cream Toppings now come in peanut butter and chocolate flavors.  These are fun on your all your desserts like cookies or brownies, but are fun toppings on healthier desserts like fruit bowls, as well. Fun facts for parents- these whipped creams are made with 100% real cream from cows not treated with rBST growth hormone, and without high-fructose corn syrup, oil ingredients, and artificial sweeteners or flavors. Retails between $2.99 and $3.99, check for prices before you shop. Who likes to pay more?

 chocolate whipped creme

For a more “grown up” treat, check out Harvest Pumpkin Ale from Samuel Adams.  These fall inspired beers brewed by Samuel Adams are brewed with “real pumpkin and a blend of caramel and roasted malts to create a rich depth of malt flavor perfect for the crisp days of fall” (according to Samuel Adams). If you are into all things pumpkin spice, and want to “spice it up” a little more, this might be right up your alley. Not all of us are drinkers, but for those who like to indulge now and again, this would be a flavorful fall imbibement. Prices vary by market and by what count you’d like to purchase.

fall flavors

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Must have Nursie Breastfeeding Pillow from Lansinoh

October 21, 2018 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” and “Terms of Use” tabs for more information

 

We all know that when you are a new mom weather for the first time or the 4th, finding the perfect ‘tools’ is very important. Lansinoh Breastfeeding Pillow is definitely going to be at the top of all mom’s lists.

About Lansinoh:

Lansinoh was founded by a breastfeeding mom, Lansinoh has been committed to helping moms succeed in breastfeeding for 30 years. They were made famous by their award-winning cornerstone product, HPA Lanolin, today Lansinoh is the market leader in breastfeeding accessories.

Lansinoh is committed to providing mothers support not only through their unique line of products but their services. By listening to breastfeeding and pumping mothers and understanding their needs and challenges, Lansinoh continues to evolve and adapt their line of products to help support their needs.

About Lansinoh Nursie Breastfeeding Pillow:

The Lansinoh Nursie Breastfeeding Pillow is comfortable, portable, and helps support proper breastfeeding positioning.

By sliding on your arm, rather than around your waist, the design is perfect for c-section tummies and one size actually fits all, regardless of shape and size. The Nursie pillow allows moms to naturally bring baby up to the breast to nurse rather than leaning over, which is perfect for latch, positioning, and avoiding back pain. As a small and lightweight nursing pillow, it is ideal for today’s on-the-go mom.

My Thoughts:

I definitely love this amazing Breastfeeding pillow. I loved the traditional one that I had with my other 3 daughters, but this is definitely going to be my must have item for baby showers from now on. I love the size of it, so you don’t feel guilty packing it when you are on a trip. I also love that it fits perfectly on your arm and gives you a much better hold while breastfeeding.

Purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing Nursie from Lansinoh, head on over to their website to get you one ordered today.

 

Filed Under: baby, review Tagged With: , , , , , ,

On the Go with Britax B 3 G Stroller #BritaxMom

October 11, 2018 by 8 Comments

I am a mom of a toddler and I am also a daycare provider to a little one. Having two tiny movers and shakers tagging along with me on my errands and adventures was a challenge up until a few weeks ago. As I juggled a single stroller and a baby carrier, I realized we need a great double stroller or these day trips couldn’t continue.

We got to try out the Britax B 3 G stroller and it has been such a handy helper for this mom on the go. The stroller is stylish and versatile. It comes equipped with one comfy seat that has 12 seating positions for a growing child. I love the one hand fold option. It is so handy for a busy mom with multiple kids to manage. Putting the stroller away has never been easier. I know because I have years of experience.

The best thing about the Britax B 3 G Stroller is that you can add a second seat to accommodate multiple kids. This has made such a difference to my son and the child I watch in the daytime. We can get out and go with ease. The stroller has a generously sized basket underneath it to hold all of our gear, from the diaper bag to favorite toys, we can take the essentials along without having to carry everything.

We have been more than pleased with the stroller. It is easy to push and fold for transport or storage. We love that it will “grow with” our busy toddler. This is the stroller to get for one vital reason, it works with a car seat as your baby is born, but the 12 seating positions enable the stroller to work through the baby and toddler stages, and beyond if needed! The top seat can hold up to 55 pounds, meaning this stroller can handle a newborn baby and keep on going through the preschooler years.

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