With back to school season upon us, moms and dads everywhere are scrambling to get everything our kids want and need for the upcoming year. Most of our kids have “required” back to school items like certain notebooks, pens and pencils, and of course new backpacks. However, besides the required back to school classroom supplies, most children also need new clothes for the new school year- they do tend to grow, don’t they? 
One place I like to shop for my son is Kohl’s. As most of you know, we are big fans of Kohl’s, both in store and online. One of the best things about shopping at Kohl’s is that you can find everything you need for everyone in your family all in one place- and if they happen to run out of a size or you don’t feel like running to the store, there is always http://www.kohls.com .
[Read more…]
Go Back To School With Kohl’s
WIN! Back To School With Alex Toys and Crafts
With back to school upon us, we want our kids to be as ready as they can be. We also want them to have as much fun as they can both in and out of school. Learning can be fun, and is easily incorporated into play. Having mom and dad around to share learning time and help and encourage children grow will let your children thrive and feel confidant as they had back to school this year.
ALEX toys, favorites of ours, make going back to school fun and easy. Check out some of the awesome items they have for your little ones!
ALEX TOYS Ready, Set, Write by ALEX BRANDS
We love this! We took it with us on a recent road trip to Maine and Canada, and my son used it in the car and in restaurants. “Learn to write A,B,C’s and numbers with ease! This spiral-bound pad contains 19 pages of numbers and letters that wipe away for lots of practicing.” It is perfect for practicing your letters and getting to know them, or for older children like my son, getting better with handwriting (which, like his mother, is usually a mess).
Ready, Set, Write costs $13.95 on the ALEX site, and is well worth it. It can be used over and over again, as well as passed on to younger siblings. It is aimed at kids aged 3 and up, but can be used by younger if they can grip the pen. The one thing I would watch for is that the pen does stain both hands and clothing if you are not careful.
ALEX TOYS Ready, Set, Tell Time by ALEX BRANDS
My son is not the best at telling time on any sort of clock or watch- it is a skill we are working on. This kit is aimed at children 4 and up, but again can be used with younger children as well as older. I would have for sure used it for circle time when I was teaching Pre-K, and my son is getting use out of it as well. It sells for $18.95 on the ALEX website, and comes with more then just a clock face.
[Read more…]
Fun With Superheros
With great power, comes great toys. That’s how it goes, right? Let’s go with it. If you are looking to power up, check out these fun new playthings that have recently hit the stores.
If you have a little one, chances are you have seen or heard of Paw Patrol- the hit TV show aimed at Pre-K and kindergarteners. The show revolves around 6 puppies, Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble, and Skye. They have a human companion, a ten year-old boy who likes technology, named Ryder. They work together as a team, solve problems, and help creatures and the environment while showing kids cooperation skills. Now the pups are available as toys, from plush to action figures and even vehicles (which play a large part in the show). The “Racers” are also lots of fun, because they each come with one vehicle and one pup, and have real working wheels that even small kids can use for push and race fun. If your child is a fan of the show or of animals in general, these super-pups will be a fun treat for them. Available for $7.99 and up at Amazon, Target, and more.
It’s always a good time for LEGOS. Some of the latest superheros variety include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Lego Movie- full of heroes. Some of our current favorites include the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Knowhere Escape Mission and the Guardians of the Galaxy Starblaster Showdown, both featuring the characters from Guardians Of The Galaxy. The Knowhere Escape Mission is a fairly large set, great for bigger kids or collectors. It has 433 pieces, and comes with 3 minifigures and weapons- Rocket Raccoon, Nebula and the Sakaaran, as well as a Groot figure. Star Blaster Showdown comes with 196 pieces, 3 figures, weapons, and more (features handcuffs as well, which is pretty cool and somewhat unique). About $40 and $20, respectively.
[Read more…]
Legoland Discovery Center
Lego’s are fun for kids of all ages, and the Legoland Discovery Center in NY is a great place to spend the day for Lego lovers of all ages.
The adventure begins with learning how Lego bricks are made. Where you learn all about the process and the history of the little plastic bricks. After an interesting introductions its time to ride some rides and visit some attractions. The first ride is a sit down guided shooting ride where you save the castle by defeating tons of baddies.
Up next is the main even a huge jungle gym/ball pit where kids can climb, jump, and play for hours on end. Kids are only allowed in when their guardian is present and are only allowed out when said guardian comes back. The precaution is appropriate and an easy step to assure safety. There are also a bunch of other attractions to check out, like the racing course where you build your own kart to race against everyone else. There is also a magic broom ride where you ride around one a broom which is fun for kids and adults. There is also a 4D movie you can check out. Also you can build a tower and try to survive an Earth quake courtesy of a shifting plate to build on.
Don’t wait for the Truck
This is a sponsored post, sponsored by Global Influence but all opinions are my own.
![UNI_WAG_IceCreamScale_Asset2[5][1] (1)](https://havesippywilltravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/UNI_WAG_IceCreamScale_Asset251-1.jpg)
Even though many kids are back in school, or soon will be- it’s still technically summertime, and after the sound of crickets and bugs at night, there is one more auditory staple of the season- the ice cream man music. Ice cold treats on hot summer days can’t be beat. but waiting for the ice cream man can sometimes lead to disappointment and dismay.
I remember when I was younger and my siblings and I would spend a good portion of our summer vacation over at my grandparents’ house. As such we would spend hours on end at a local playground. While there the ice cream man would randomly show up on some days and others, not at all. When he did show up it was great, ice pops shaped like super heroes, ice cream enveloped in chocolate, everything a little kid could hope for in a Summer time treat. But the problem was, he didn’t always show up and when he didn’t we were all disappointed and down the rest of the day. Unfortunately for us, Walgreens wasn’t around with their supply of frozen treats. From Magnum, Breyers, Klondike, Frutare, and Popsicle- all Unilever products are available in store at any time of day, rain or shine. Instead of waiting for the ice cream man why not go to your local Walgreens instead? The lines are smaller than the grocery store, you are almost guaranteed to find a frozen treat there to fit your current cravings and it makes for an interesting trip to the store. Walgreens are perfect for grabbing little necessities like ice cream novelties for these reasons and more. Also many Walgreens have extended hours so even if the craving hits at night they are there for you. Don’t wait for the truck and treat yourself today!
A Better Way to Get Your Energy
Do you have a soda addiction that you need to suppress? In the past, I have been a huge Diet Mountain Dew fan. Every morning around 5:30 a.m., I would grab a can from the fridge as soon as I woke up. If I didn’t have my Diet Mountain Dew before 1 p.m., I would get a very bad headache. I have been told over and over by the girls at the gym, that I could shed a few more pounds if I could cut back on the amount of Diet Mountain Dews that I was drinking. This sounded easy for them to say, but I didn’t want to battle the headaches and basically I enjoyed drinking them. At least I was drinking the diet version and not the full strength Mountain Dews. It could be worse, right?
I learned about Spark Energy drinks and was given the challenge of using them to beat my Diet Mountain Dew addiction. As a product reviewer, you know I couldn’t pass this opportunity by. I was told to drink a Spark drink as soon as I woke up and another one around 2 to 3 pm when my Diet Mountain Dew craving set in. I really didn’t see this working since I “needed” my Diet Mountain Dew, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try. Guess what, it worked! I couldn’t believe that this great tasting flavored drink could stop my Diet Mountain Dew cravings. It couldn’t take away the thoughts of enjoying one, but it took away any thoughts that I had about “needing” one.
[Read more…]
Win an Girls’ Outfit from Eden and Zoe
Disclosure: The outfit from eden and zoe was provided for me in order to 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.
I really enjoy buying clothes both for me as well as for my girls. Now I’m not one of those crazy people that is all about clothes, but I do love a little retail therapy here and there. I was very excited to find this soft, adorable outfit from Eden and Zoe.
About Eden and Zoe:
Eden and Zoe are the names of the owners two daughters. They are his inspiration and motivation.
The company was originally started with a wish to keep eden and zoe comfortable, cozy, and stylish. The aim is to design cashmere knitwear for children that is sophisticated and understated. She believes in classic styling with a modern twist. Most importantly, it is about your child feeling comfortable and confident in what she/he is wearing.
Each of the collections are made in small quantities to ensure quality and exclusivity. Each of the pieces are made from pure cashmere, created using a hand-operated knitting machine and finished by hand.
Eden and Zoe knitwear is made to be worn, enjoyed, and shared.
Win an Awesome FlipBelt Running Belt
Disclosure: The FlipBelt was provided for me in order to 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.
I am always on the go. A lot of the time my girls are with me, but there are times that I get to go out for a run or walk by myself. I must admit that I typically take my phone with me everywhere but really hate holding onto it and my house key while I’m out and about. FlipBelt is the perfect solution for this problem.
About FlipBelt:
Everyone has something that they need to carry, but not always the hand to hold it. FlipBelt is the solution for this problem. FlipBelt is designed to carry your on-the-go essentials without tying up your hands. It is made of moisture-wicking, spandex-lycra blend, FlipBelt slides right on and sits snug on your hip. There is no bulk or no bounce. FlipBelt is also machine washable and machine dryable.
